Christine Lagarde on Women

Christine Lagarde views the empowerment of women as essential not only for ethical reasons related to gender equality but also as a fundamental driver of macroeconomic stability and inclusive economic growth. Her core position, articulated during her tenure at the International Monetary Fund, was that closing the gender gap in employment could significantly boost GDP, citing research showing potential increases by an average of 35 percent in less equal economies, with productivity gains from diversity also contributing substantially. She has consistently pushed for policymakers to enact measures that support women's access to necessary resources, including finance, education, health services, and legal protections against workplace harassment.

This commitment continues into her current role, where she has highlighted the specific financial knowledge gap that disadvantages women across Europe, framing it as a barrier to their ability to control their financial futures. Her actions include promoting initiatives like a pan-European walking challenge designed to deliver bite-sized financial education to women in an accessible manner. Furthermore, the former IMF Managing Director believes that increasing female representation in senior management and corporate boards, even by a single member, is associated with higher returns on assets for firms and greater stability in the banking sector.