Gender equality is smart economics: Insights from Women, Business and the Law 2026 Tea TrumbicNorman Loayza March 17, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/developmenttalk/gender-equality-is-smart-economics--insights-from-women--busines Facing a shrinking workforce and stubborn stagnation in 2012, Japan placed a pragmatic bet on women. It rolled out a series of reforms to make it easier for women to work, including expanding childcare support, enhancing parental leave, and using tax incentives to spur firms to promote women at work. By 2019, two million more women were employed, female labor force participation reached 67%, and job placement for graduates was nearly universal. © 2026 World Bank Group,