A gendered response to the Cost of Living Crisis? International lessons

There is overwhelmingly evidence illustrating how the cost-of-living (COL) crisis has been disproportionately affecting lower income groups (as they have lower savings; spend a greater proportion of their budget on food and energy, and less able to absorb rising costs). Consequently, women have often borne the brunt of this crisis.

This is why gender analysis of the impact of the COL crisis – and policy responses – are critical. Not only are women over-represented among lower income households, but other inter-related factors mean that women are more exposed to the effects.

In order to shed light on what a better response to the COL crisis could have looked like, we analysed international responses, aiming to highlight effective measures that prevent exacerbating gender inequality.

This report focuses on fiscal responses in five OECD countries—Australia, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and Spain—highlighting innovative and comprehensive policies to mitigate the crisis’s impact, particularly on women. 

Read the full briefing here