Doing Radical Public Policy, Observations from a Feminist Economist

Abstract

This essay provides an overview of the founding of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) and its research across its first thirty-two years. The formation of its research agenda, the kind of research conducted there, and the influence of feminist economics and radical economics on each other and on IWPR’s research, are discussed, focusing on the importance of both paid and unpaid economic activities by women. IWPR’s work is illustrated by the examples of the wage gap, family leave, and state-based studies. The essay ends with commentary on how social movements can work toward an egalitarian social democracy and economy that meets human needs. JEL Classification: B54, B5, J38, I31