Varieties of gendered political economies

There can be no doubt that all political economies face the challenge of new social risks deriving from post-industrial societal change. Political economic research sheds light on the internal and external challenges confronting different gendered political economies, with distinct constellations of adjustment problems and reform agendas to incorporate women into the labour market (Estevez-Abe, 2005; Mandel and Shalev, 2009). Do labour market policies play a role in reducing women’s options for leaving paid work? Is it possible to lessen the attractiveness of not working compared to working?