Session by Catherine Candea, OECD Deputy Director of Public Affairs and Communications; and Yumiko Murakami, Head of OECD Tokyo Centre. Gender equality is not only about ensuring a fair society, it makes good economic sense. On average across the OECD, if female labour force participation rates converged to that of men by 2030, GDP would increase by 12%. G20 countries have committed to reduce gender gaps in labour force participation rates by 25% by 2025. Progress in female educational attainment and increases in women’s employment are absolutely crucial for economic growth and for reducing income inequality, even more so in the context of ageing populations. However, significant disparities remain: women are less likely than men to work and more likely to work part-time; they remain severely under-represented in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields of study and occupations; their representation in senior management positions is still far below par; and gender wage gaps persist, particularly at the top of the hierarchy. In many countries, tax and benefit systems still do not provides mothers and fathers with equal incentives to work, which can exacerbate existing gender inequalities. All these differences, accumulated throughout life, also lead to retirement income disparities. Gender equality amongst policy makers has been recognised as important for achieving progress in gender equality and for improving the quality and responsiveness of public policy and services. But while the proportion of female leaders policy making is increasing, women still represent, on average, less than one-third of decision-making positions in all branches of power in OECD countries.