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Is gender equality of influence on economic development? Based on insights from feminist macroeconomics, the paper develops a framework that suggests that the gendered distribution of the pie does matter for its size. However, in order to assess the relationship, we need a good measure of gender equality that is not influenced by absolute levels of development. The often-used composite indices developed by UNDP, GDI and GEM, suffer from conceptual and methodological weaknesses which are analysed in this paper. The paper then goes on to develop an alternative composite measure of gender equality. Finally, some first attempts are made to examine the relationship with economic development.

This paper examines the dynamics of gender relations in Central America and the Caribbean, in particular between 1980 and 1990. Most countries of the region experienced economic crisis and carried out stabilization measures. Starting point for the paper is that gendered effects of crisis and adjustment are caused and mediated by existing gender inequalities of different types: cultural inequality, inequality in power, and inequality in access to social and economic assets. The paper finds, among other conclusions, that gender equality improved in this period. It appears that cultural trends, public policies, and the strength of the women's movement played a role in improving the relative situation of women. The existing gender equality in a country proved to be of little predictive value for the impact of the economic crisis on gender equality.