The Economist discovers women
Better late than never. In a recent issue of The Economist (April 15) two of the 96 pages were dedicated to "womenomics". It's official: women will eventually rule the world. I can't wait! Even The Economist nowadays admit the value of affordable child care and state funded parental leave (there actually are issues that the free market cannot solve). And value not only for the women and men that can pursue careers and have a family at the same time, but value for the economy and the society as a whole.
Some statistics in the same issue made me (briefly) proud to be Swedish:
• In Sweden, 150 women go to university for every 100 men.
• Sweden tops the chart showing percentage women employed, together with Denmark.
• At the same time, the fertility rate in Sweden is way higher than in Italy and Spain, where fewer women have paid work. Explanation: Swedish child care, parental leave and care for the elderly.
• Foreign aid: Sweden on top again, together with Norway, showing the percentage of GDP, 2005. Yet, it is less than one percent.
• Also, Stockholm is a good place to live, according to the Mercer annual quality-of-living-report. The Swedish capital holds place number 20 on a list where you find New York on place 46. Zurich and Geneva tops the list, and newly "liberated" Baghdad comes in last, at place number 215.
Some statistics in the same issue made me (briefly) proud to be Swedish:
• In Sweden, 150 women go to university for every 100 men.
• Sweden tops the chart showing percentage women employed, together with Denmark.
• At the same time, the fertility rate in Sweden is way higher than in Italy and Spain, where fewer women have paid work. Explanation: Swedish child care, parental leave and care for the elderly.
• Foreign aid: Sweden on top again, together with Norway, showing the percentage of GDP, 2005. Yet, it is less than one percent.
• Also, Stockholm is a good place to live, according to the Mercer annual quality-of-living-report. The Swedish capital holds place number 20 on a list where you find New York on place 46. Zurich and Geneva tops the list, and newly "liberated" Baghdad comes in last, at place number 215.
posted by Pelle at Wednesday, April 26, 2006
2 Comments:
I think I can wait... some of those women that have already ruled might not have done an awful lot for society (I am thinking of a certain British prime minister!). Sweden does seem to be doing well on most counts - though not climate, in my opinion - but you did notice that Brussels is ahead of Stockholm in the "quality of life" stakes???!
Well, you gotta realize that Brussels is closer to both Chablis and Champagne than Stockholm. And even though I had a hard time surviving my three years spent in "the European Capital" as some jokers call Brussels, I must admit that the city looks a lot better these days. But maybe that's just because I'm a visitor nowadays, and doesn't have to actually live there.
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