Central idea
The article highlights Arun Maira’s insights on the gender disparity in economic narratives, emphasizing the undervaluation of women’s contributions, the evolving challenges in global employment patterns, and the need for a more inclusive and care-focused approach to economic development, particularly in the context of India and the G-20’s call for a holistic vision beyond GDP
Challenges in How We See Money and Work:
- Not Enough Women Recognized: The Nobel Prize in Economics mostly goes to men, leaving out women’s important contributions. Only three women have won it so far.
- Forgetting the Value of Care: The work women do at home, taking care of family and community, isn’t seen as important for the economy. This is a big problem.
- Jobs Changing Globally: The way people work is changing worldwide. More jobs are now short-term or in the gig economy. This is a big challenge for India, which has a lot of young people.
- Not Paying Enough for Important Jobs: Jobs like taking care of families or working in health and education are crucial, but the people doing these jobs, mostly women, are not paid well.
India’s Economic Situation:
- Problems for Young People: In India, even though the economy is growing fast, it’s hard for young people to find good jobs with good pay and security.
- Need More Focus on Care: India ranks 132nd in human development, and we need to spend more on services that take care of people. But sadly, jobs like taking care of families or working in health and education are not paid much.
- G-20’s Call for a Different Way: Our Prime Minister has asked the G-20 for a new approach, one that looks beyond just making money. He says it’s time to think of the world as one family.
Checking How Well We’re Doing:
- Progress Slow for Big Global Goals: The G-20 says we’re not doing great halfway to our big global goals. Only 12% of the things we wanted to achieve are on track.
- Time for a Big Change: Arun Maira says we need to change how we solve problems. The usual way is not working, so we need to try something new.
Seeing Economics in a New Way:
- Thinking About Everyone: Maira says we need to change how we see our economy. It’s not just about making things and competing. It’s about taking care of people.
- Looking at What Women Do: Women, according to Maira, do a lot of important work that isn’t always noticed. Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom showed that when women are in charge, communities work well together.
What Needs to Change:
- Giving Women More Power: Maira says we need to let women shape how things work, not just follow what men have set up.
- Letting Local Communities Decide: Instead of having big experts decide everything, Maira says we should let local communities come up with their solutions. What works in one place might not work in another.
| Unique phrases from article for upsc mains exam value addition
“Tragedy of the Commons Revisited:” Referring to Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom’s insights, this phrase underscores the importance of cooperative governance, particularly led by women, in managing local resources sustainably.
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: One Family, One Earth, One Future:” This phrase encapsulates the Indian Prime Minister’s call at the G-20, emphasizing a vision that transcends traditional economic metrics and advocates for a global community approach.
“Paradigm Change in Economics:” Arun Maira advocates for a fundamental shift in economic thinking, moving away from traditional models dominated by men and towards a more inclusive, caring, and community-driven perspective.
“The Feminine Lens on Economics:” This phrase highlights the article’s exploration of a feminine perspective in economics, drawing attention to the undervalued contributions of women and the need for a broader understanding of economic dynamics. |
Conclusion:
Changing how we think about our economy is not easy, but it’s important. Maira tells us that we should listen to regular people, especially women, and let them help make things better. This way, we can build a future where everyone is taken care of, and our world becomes one big family.
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