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Womenenomics: Gender Equality as a Development Approach in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Meltem İNCE YENİLMEZ

    (Department of Economics, Izmir Democracy University, Izmir, Türkiye)

  • Hiroshi YOSHIDA

    (Department of Economics, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan)

  • Fengming CHEN

    (Hitotsubashi Institute for Advanced Study, Hitotsubashi University, Tokio, Japan)

Abstract

This paper analyses the success of the "Womenomics" policy, launched in Japan in 2013 in response to demographic and economic challenges and aimed at increasing women's participation in the workforce, as well as the structural barriers behind it. Among the policy's main goals were increasing women's labour force participation rate and boosting their representation in management positions. Therefore, womenenomics has failed to achieve its goals. Although women's labour force participation rate has increased since 1986 (reaching 66% in 2016), this increase has largely coincided with a rise in irregular (precarious) employment rates. Notwith-standing, womenomics, within a neoliberal framework, primarily aims for economic growth rather than genuine social equality. This top-down approach does not adequately address the various economic challenges and pressure to leave the workforce faced by women, particularly in low-skilled occupations. All in all, to create a sustainable impact for womenomics, it must go beyond mere participation metrics and target deep-rooted cultural and institutional trans-formations that ensure job quality and parental leave are accessible to both genders.

Suggested Citation

  • Meltem İNCE YENİLMEZ & Hiroshi YOSHIDA & Fengming CHEN, 2025. "Womenenomics: Gender Equality as a Development Approach in Japan," Yildiz Social Science Review, Yildiz Technical University, vol. 11(2), pages 87-98, December .
    • Handle: RePEc:aye:journl:v:11:y:2025:i:2:p:87-98
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chiang, Hui-Yu & Ohtake, Fumio, 2014. "Performance-pay and the gender wage gap in Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 71-88.
    2. Bank of Japan, 2024. "Economic Activity, Prices, and Monetary Policy over the Past 25 Years: Summary of the Second Workshop on the "Review of Monetary Policy from a Broad Perspective"," Bank of Japan Research Papers 24-08-09, Bank of Japan.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F00 - International Economics - - General - - - General
    • F30 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - General
    • G00 - Financial Economics - - General - - - General
    • G10 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - General (includes Measurement and Data)
    • K00 - Law and Economics - - General - - - General (including Data Sources and Description)
    • K20 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - General
    • M00 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - General - - - General
    • M20 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - General
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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