GENDER STUDY An Investment that Pays off Promoting Gender Equality as a Means to Finance Development STEPHANIE SEGUINO, GÜNSELI BERIK, YANA VAN DER MEULEN RODGERS May 2010 n Especially under the conditions of financial resource constraints, investing in the improvement of gender equality in a country can stimulate economic growth for the whole society. n However, a blind pursuit of neoliberal policies, privileging an export-led growth stra­tegy over any other economic strategy, and making use of cheap female labor in export industries, is not the means to achieve economic and social development for the long run. n Sustainable development requires an innovative policy mix, putting gender equality at the heart of economic policies, stimulating local demand and not the least, im­proving working conditions globally through the reform of international trade rules.