Work and public policies: the interweaving of feminist economics and the capability approach

This paper will start with an assessment on how the capability approach within a feminist economic framework can be used to analyse the determinants of gender inequalities and then to address public policies that are able to contrast them. To analyse public policies within a feminist economic framework and in the capability approach reference will be made to the methodology proposed in Addabbo, Lanzi, Picchio (2010) and a special focus will be devoted on work that will be analysed with reference to the indicators developed to measure it and in a feminist economics perspective (Picchio, 2003). Its link with other relevant dimensions of well-being will be highlighted together with the extent of gender inequalities in its achievement. In this setting a selection of public policies will be evaluated to uncover their effects on the capability of working and gender inequality in its development and in its conversion into observable functionings.