The Importance of Sex
April 12, 2006
The Economist

The author discusses how women are the "world's most under-utilized resource" and a key to economic development and growth. In support of his argument, the author states that women consistently get better grades than men, are more likely to go to university and financially savvier than men. Thus, according to the author, women are better equipped to excel in the workforce than men.

The author exhorts governments to "exploit" women’s abilities. In the author's opinion, investing in female education in developing countries would deliver enormous economic and social returns for two reasons. First, educated women are likelier to be more productive than men, and second, they are likelier to raise well-educated and healthier children. The author suggests that increased representation of women in government will probably lead to a shift in priorities away from "tanks and bombs" to issues such as improving health, education and infrastructure.