Exploring evolving policy frameworks on the care economy: Is there a convergence towards a transformative care agenda?

Abstract

Abstract In the years following the Covid-19 pandemic, multilateral organizations at both international and regional levels have issued numerous policy documents on the care economy. This surge in attention reflects the growing prominence of the issue in policy debates, building on decades of feminist advocacy. However, questions remain regarding the varying approaches and frameworks adopted, as well as the extent to which these policies incorporate proposals advanced by gender advocates. This paper represents a first attempt at a comparative assessment of care economy policy approaches and advocacy strategies at the multilateral level through the lens of feminist economics, with a focus on the UN and the World Bank. The empirical analysis draws on published policy documents from the 2010s to the 2020s and is structured around three key dimensions: the problem statement and rationale for policy intervention, the stated policy objectives, and the emerging policy roadmap for achieving these goals. I examine the extent to which the UN and World Bank policy frameworks have converged toward a feminist ‘transformative care agenda’ and analyse the conceptual underpinnings and narratives shaping their approaches. I argue that these frameworks have significant implications for concrete policy proposals and substantive outcomes. While there is a discernible convergence toward a transformative care agenda at the multilateral level, I highlight key divergences, tensions, and shortcomings that persist.