Gender equality is one of the fundamental values of the European Union and an
important factor associated with social and economic development. Over recent
decades, the understanding of gender equality has expanded from an issue of social
justice to an area of economic policy, as numerous studies have highlighted its
relationship with economic development, productivity, and innovation. Despite
progress at the European Union level, significant differences in the achievement of
gender equality still exist among Member States, which are reflected in different
economic outcomes.
The results of the study confirm that there are substantial differences in the level of
gender equality among European Union Member States. Countries with aboveaverage
levels of gender equality, particularly Sweden, achieve higher Gender Equality
Index scores, high female employment rates, and greater representation of women in
decision-making positions. In contrast, countries with below-average levels of gender
equality tend to record lower Gender Equality Index scores, lower female employment
rates, and greater barriers to women’s participation in political and economic decisionmaking.
The results of the analysis indicate a positive relationship between higher
levels of gender equality and stronger economic performance. Greater participation of
women in the labour market may contribute to a more efficient use of human capital,
higher productivity, and greater innovation potential.
The comparative analysis of Slovenia and Sweden showed that Sweden performs
better in most domains of the Gender Equality Index, particularly in the domain of
power and the representation of women in decision-making processes. Slovenia,
however, achieves more favourable results in the domain of money, where differences
between women and men are less pronounced. The findings indicate that gender
equality policies may be associated with the economic performance of countries, while
broader institutional and social characteristics also play an important role.
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