Counting for something! Recognising women's contribution to the global economy through alternative accounting systems

Abstract

As a political economist, the focus of my research and activism has always been how economic data can be used to influence public policy. I am very familiar with the technical, logistical and measurement arguments traditionally raised by statisticians or economists in the debates on the collection, presentation and imputations related to gender disaggregated statistics. I also have very little patience with them. This article explains why, in the context of a critique of the United Nations System of National Accounts (UNSNA). It also surveys some alternative methods of accounting, which better capture the realities of women's contribution to the global economy. The new feminist challenge is to identify and use these models in public policy making and in advocacy for change.