Gender equality: the impact of public policies

The Economist’s Glass Ceiling Index reminds us year after year that gender equality is, in addition to an inspiring ideal, a goal that can only be achieved with concrete public policies. In 2024, the British weekly’s index, which analyses the barriers faced by women in the workplace, from the pay gap to representation in management positions, ranked Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Finland and France —in this order— as the five countries with the greatest equality. All of them demonstrate that effective public policies make labor equality a tangible reality.

• Iceland: In 2018, the country that leads The Economist‘s indicator  was a pioneer in making equal pay mandatory, requiring companies and government entities with more than 25 employees to certify that they provide equal pay to men and women for the same type of work.
• Sweden: With  generous and equitable parental leave policies, this other Nordic country offers up to 480 days that both parents can share.
• Norway: In 2024, gender representation requirements were extended, which, since 2003, already required at least 40% of women on the boards of directors of listed companies. The new legislation will be gradually applied to private companies of a certain size, with the forecast to reach about 20.000 by 2028.
• Finland: Gender equality has been promoted through education policies that guarantee equal opportunities from vocational training, as well as programs to increase the presence of women in traditionally male-dominated sectors, such as technology and engineering.
• France: Since 2018, companies with more than 50 employees have been required to publish their gender pay gap every year through the Index de l’égalité professionnelle entre les femmes et les hommes. Those that do not meet the minimum standards can face financial penalties of up to 1% of their wage bill.

On the contrary, countries in the last positions, such as Israel, Japan and South Korea, show that the lack of inclusive public policies is a serious obstacle. The Glass Ceiling Index makes it clear that it is not enough to have qualified women: closing the gender gap requires courageous political decisions, a genuine commitment to equality and the conviction that progress benefits all of society.