ENGENDERING MACROECONOMICS - A RECONSIDERATION OF GROWTH THEORY

Macroeconomics is gender-biased because of its neglect of the reproductive sector. This neglect is formalized in the assumptions, supporting most macroeconomic models, that population and the mapping from population to the labor force are determined exogenously. The use of these assumptions is demonstrated for the case of the aggregate growth models which have evolved from Harrod's original contribution. In addition, the development growth literature is shown to harbor a similar neglect. Some suggestions are made as to how these assumptions might be relaxed and some elements of a consequent theory and data project outlined.