Womenomics Part I--Women and the Global Economy

Rosemary Werrett and Michele Wucker

Thurs., January 31, 2008
Program from 12:15-1:45 pm
at NYRAG
79 Fifth Avenue, 4th Fl (between 15th & 16th Sts.)
New York, NY [ directions]

 

Join Demos, The World Policy Institute, The National Council for Research on Women, Vital Voices and a panel of distinguished speakers (see below) for a discussion of global trends around why investing, empowering and advancing women is smart business and good for the economy, women and their families. The discussion will continue later in 2008 with "Womenomics Part II - "Women's Successful Strategies to Grow the US Economy."

In 2006, The Economist coined the word "womenomics" when it declared, "Forget China, India and the Internet, economic growth is driven by women." In a three-part series it cited studies suggesting that the rapid entry of women into the workforce has added more to GDP than new jobs for men - and more in productivity than the technology sector. The World Economic Forum now explicitly publishes an annual gender empowerment index as a critical component in each country's economic competitiveness. The World Bank has launched a major initiative, "Gender Equality as Smart Economics." The featured panelists below will discuss the global implications of women in the workforce, and the impact of microfinance initiatives focusing on women as both breadwinners and entrepreneurs on families and economies worldwide.

	Moderating the discussion will be:
	Hon. Linda Tarr-Whelan is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos, where she is currently writing a book entitled, "Still Untapped: Why America Needs More Women Leaders in Business and Politics." She was Ambassador to the UN Commission on the Status of Women during the Clinton Administration.
	Introducing the topic will be:
	Michele Wucker is Executive Director of the World Policy Institute and author of LOCKOUT: Why America Keeps Getting Immigration Wrong When Our Prosperity Depends on Getting It Right and Why The Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians and the Struggle For Hispaniola. Recipient of a 2007 Guggenheim Fellowship for her work on citizenship, Ms. Wucker lectures frequently about immigration, cross-cultural conflict and conciliation, and Caribbean politics. She is a former Latin America bureau chief for International Financing Review and has written for many distinguished publications.
	Panelists include:
	Rebecca Patterson is a Managing Director and Global Currency Strategist with JPMorgan, and has worked in their New York, London and Singapore offices formulating the bank's views on foreign exchange markets worldwide and developing tools and strategies to help a wide range of clients. Rebecca worked previously as a journalist covering politics, economics and financial markets for Dow Jones, the Associated Press and the St. Petersburg (Florida) Times.
	Linda Basch is President of the National Council for Research on Women, and has expanded the organization into a network of 115 research, advocacy, and policy centers with a growing Corporate Circle of business leaders and Presidents Circle of academic leaders. Her leadership promotes fact-based policies and programs that support the advancement of women and girls, particularly from marginalized and historically underrepresented groups. Her articles and commentary have appeared in scholarly journals and major media outlets including the Associated Press, National Public Radio, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
	Rosemary Werrett is the Honorary Past President of the Board of Directors and continuing board member of Pro Mujer. She is currently Director of Business Development for the Observatory Group, a New York City based think tank that provides policy intelligence to the financial industry. Previously, Ms. Werrett was Director for Latin America at Medley Global Advisors and Senior Director of Corporate Relations at the Council of the Americas, and President and founder of Latin American Information Services, Inc.

This event is free and open to the public but RSVP is required to secure your seat. To register email events@worldpolicy.org or call (212) 481-5005 Option 2.

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