Anna Zachorowska-Mazurkiewicz

Impact of Ideology on Institutional Solutions Addressing Women's Role in the Labor Market in Poland

It is often stressed in economic papers that modem industrial and post-industrial societies are organized according to economic rationality, and the role of allocation is the most important one. If this were true, the participation rate of men and women in an occupational system should be shaped by the same factors in the same degree. There are, however, different factors that define the social and occupational position of men and women. Hence, social institutions shape the situation of women in the labor market. The situation of women depends on institutional solutions typical for a certain region or country, since it has evolved in different ways and as a result is not homogenous today. The historically defined position of women in society and the economy is hard to redefine based on features of the variety of institutions, for example a resistance to change. However, even though institutions are rigid, there are ways to influence them. One way used to change reality, is an ideology. This paper addresses if this is an efficient one.

Role of Macroeconomic Policy in Reinforcing Gender Inequality - A Case Study of Poland in the European Union

Gender inequality is caused by numerous factors, among which one may find traditional division of labor, family, religion and many other institutions. The state also influences a position of women in society and economy. Nowadays most western states seem to engage in the promotion of equal status of men and women. The European Union (EU) is known for its policy of gender mainstreaming that has been implemented in member states. The EU, however, promotes a neoliberal approach in the economy that seems to be in contradiction to the promotion of gender equality. In Poland, tendencies to liberate, privatize and deregulate are warmly welcomed as cures for economic underdevelopment. Gender equality, on the other hand, has been challenged as a relic of the former political system. In this paper, the author attempts to answer the question whether macroeconomic policy promoted by the EU influences the status of women in Poland.

INNOVATION, INNOVATIVENESS AND GENDER - APPROACHING INNOVATIVE GENDER

Abstract This paper deals with the attempt to search for the sources of creativity in the broad sense in solving problems. These creative solutions become innovations. The ability to develop innovation depends on the multi-dimensional predispositions to solve problems – those found in people, inspired by the market, organised or spontaneous, as well as facilitated or hampered by the state. Yet, the aforementioned factors should be supplemented with one more – gender. In the chapter attention is paid to the multi-dimensional differences stemming from gender, which should be perceived as a positive element, because they are the source of synergy resulting from collaboration among research or business teams in the process of innovation. The chapter introduces the concept of ‘innovative gender’ and its institutional framework. The methodological inspiration is the model known in the literature as the Innovation Genome, the conceptualization of which constitutes a major part of the study.

Institutional Surrounding of Innovative Activity – Based on Opinions of Women and Men Engaged in the Process of Innovation

Institutional Surrounding of Innovative Activity – Based on Opinions of Women and Men Engaged in the Process of Innovation

Gender, unpaid labour and economics

Unpaid labour, including care labour is mostly performed by women. Economic theories explain differences in allocation of time between women and men in various ways – neoclassical theories point to the rational choice associated with the varying efficiency of women and men both in the labour market and in the household, while heterodox theories point to the influence of norms, social values and traditions, according to which the man is the breadwinner and the woman the caregiver. Unpaid labour is often called home duties or responsibilities, and even though it is very difficult, tiring and demanding, it is not valued and respected. The main objective of this paper is to present the importance of unpaid care work in the economy and propose the reconsideration of economic policies.