This podcast examines whether fiscal systems, particularly tax structures, have mitigated or reinforced gender inequities over the past three decades. While gender budgeting has gained global policy visibility, empirical evidence suggests that fiscal frameworks often remain formally gender neutral yet substantively unequal in impact. The discussion interrogates how income taxation, consumption taxes, and social contributions shape labour force participation, unpaid care burdens, and intra-household distribution, and whether fiscal reform has produced measurable redistributive gains for women.

A central theme of the episode is the distinction between symbolic and substantive gender budgeting. Many governments publish gender budget statements or adopt tagging mechanisms, yet only a limited number integrate gender analysis into budget preparation, revenue design, expenditure review, and performance monitoring. The conversation explores the institutional conditions that determine this divergence, including political leadership, bureaucratic capacity, transparency standards, and legislative scrutiny.

SPEAKER: Janet Stotsky, Consultant andn Former Senior Staff of IMF

MODERATOR: Anu Maria Francis, Senior Associate, CPPR

Tune in for an insightful conversation on the economic and political rationale behind governments, the inherent costs and trade-offs in collective decision-making, and how voter behaviour and political incentives shape policy outcomes.