Engendering economic recovery: modelling alternatives to austerity in Europe

This article explores a gendered expansionary macroeconomic scenario for Europe as an alternative to the current direction of austerity policies over the medium to long-term. Using a macroeconomic forecasting model we demonstrate that the dual aim of economic growth and increases in both male and female employment can be achieved via the adoption of gender-sensitive expansionary macroeconomic policies and by overturning austerity policies. Projections for our gendered expansionary macroeconomic scenario suggest that an additional 14 million jobs, of which 9 million are for women, could be created by 2030 in the Eurozone and the United Kingdom by reversing austerity policies and marshalling government expenditure and investment towards female and male employment. We also show that these positive results are not achieved at the expense of high levels of debts and fiscal deficits. The main recommendation is for Europe to roll back austerity policies and to embark on a new gender-focused economic trajectory.