Book on gender inequality & economics authored by HPU professors launched
Mahavir Singh, Vice-Chancellor (VC), Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla, on Tuesday launched a book on gender studies and economics, titled ‘Gender Economics: Issues and Challenges’, authored by Dharam Pal, Ajay Sood and Prem Prakash, all faculty members of the Department of Economics, Centre for Distance and Online Education of the university.
The book addresses one of the most pressing concerns of contemporary society - gender inequality - and highlights the relevance of gender-sensitive economic analysis in shaping inclusive and sustainable development policies.
The book’s authors said that over the past few decades, gender issues had moved to the forefront of academic discourse, public policy and development planning across the world. “Recognising the growing importance of the issue, we have attempted to present gender economics in a systematic, comprehensive and student-friendly manner,” they added.
The said, “Prepared in accordance with the syllabus of MA (Economics) prescribed by the HPU, Central University of Punjab and the Central University of Haryana, the book caters to the academic requirements of postgraduate students in economics and allied disciplines. The textbook not only focuses on examination-oriented preparation but also encourages critical thinking and analytical understanding of gender-based economic challenges.”
The authors added, “The book comprises 18 well-structured chapters that provide a logical progression from theoretical foundations to applied dimensions of gender economics. It begins with conceptual discussions on gender perspectives in economics and women’s development approaches, gradually moving towards complex themes such as growth with gender equality, demographic transitions, labour market inequalities and feminist critiques of the mainstream economic theory. Special emphasis has been placed on contemporary issues such as globalisation, feminisation of poverty, unpaid work, intra-household decision-making and the changing nature of women’s participation in the workforce”.
They said that important topics frequently included in the postgraduate syllabi, including productive and reproductive work, wage differentials, human capital formation, time-use analysis and household economics, had also been covered in the book. “The later chapters focus on policy-oriented themes such as gender budgeting, gender mainstreaming, gender-sensitive planning, social security measures and gender perspectives in public policy. The content has been presented in simple and clear language to enhance conceptual clarity while maintaining academic rigor,” they added.
The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the efforts of the authors in producing a scholarly work that would contribute to the understanding of gender disparities in economic processes. “The book is expected to serve as a useful resource not only for students and teachers but also for researchers, policymakers, planners and social reformers working towards gender equality and inclusive development,” he said.
