Enhanced Access to Data Can Reduce the Gender Gap
On International Women’s Day, researchers from the FREE Network institutes released the policy brief “Closing the Gender Data Gap” to highlight the crucial role of data in addressing economic inequalities between women and men. The brief explores how improved data collection and access can help reduce the gender gap across labor markets, income, education, pensions, and caregiving responsibilities.
Why Better Data Matters for Gender Equality
In recent decades, progress in documenting historical developments and expanding access to new data sources has significantly improved our understanding of the different economic outcomes experienced by women and men. Today, researchers have deeper insights into:
- Labor market participation and outcomes
- Income levels and wealth accumulation
- Educational investments and pension systems
- Consumption and household decision-making
- Caregiving responsibilities and time use
These insights show that better data reduces the gender gap by revealing disparities and helping shape effective policy responses.
Key Findings
The policy brief emphasizes that to effectively design policies and strategies, data must be more accurate, comprehensive, and regularly updated. The researchers outline four critical recommendations:
- Increase access to digitized information – Governments and public institutions should make more administrative and statistical data available for research.
- Support funding for surveys – Combining survey data with administrative sources enhances both detail and reliability.
- Ensure regular data collection – Continuous monitoring allows researchers to measure the impact of major events such as legislation, conflicts, pandemics, or natural disasters.
- Leverage innovative data sources – Mobile apps, social media, and other digital platforms provide new perspectives on socio-economic trends and gender disparities.
About the Authors
The policy brief “Closing the Gender Data Gap” was authored by:
- Michal Myck (CenEA)
- Monika Oczkowska (CenEA)
- Pamela Campa (SITE)
- Maria Perrotta Berlin (SITE)
- Jesper Roine (SITE)
Media Contact
For press or media inquiries, please contact: Maria Perrotta Berlin, Professor at SITE, Phone: 0737332198, Email: Maria.Perrotta [at] hhs.se
