ABSTRACT

This chapter presents what is seen as the key features of feminist economics, arguing that these all follow from its fundamental premise: that economics needs to take account of gender relations because the differences in men's and women's roles are integral to how any economy runs. It discusses five main features of feminist economics, contrasting it in these aspects with a loosely defined notion of 'mainstream' economics. The chapter outlines some of the main contributions of feminist economics. It recognizes that people relate to each other in many ways other than through markets, with mutual interdependence both a more accurate characterisation of how people relate to each other and a better basis for thinking about improving society than models based on self-centred independent individuals. Also, there is a need for broader definitions of well-being, infrastructure and investment that include the benefits of investment in social infrastructure.