The Key to U.S. GDP Growth is Women, Says S&P Global Economists
It's no secret that the financial industry used to be dominated by men, but there are a few women who are breaking the mold and rising through the ranks. Beth Ann Bovino, S&P Global's Chief Economist, was with us to explain how important women are to not only the workforce, but the economy.
Bovino shares the keys for women to overcome obstacles and climb the corporate ladder. One of the biggest burdens women face, she said, is that they don't pursue opportunities because they are held back by the responsibility of childcare. Bovino said companies have been taking steps in the right direction with benefits such as paying for maternity leave and family care. She does think an area of improvement would be "flex time."
In her recent report titled "The Keys to Unlocking U.S. GDP Growth? Women," Bovino highlights the positive impact of female participation in the labor force. If the U.S. had a similar female workforce to Norway, for example, its economy would be $1.6 trillion larger than it is today, according to S&P Global economists.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said Thursday that the majority of iPhones sold in the U.S. in the current fiscal quarter will be sourced from India, while iPads and other devices will come from Vietnam as the company works to avoid the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on its business. Apple’s earnings for the first three months of the year topped Wall Street’s expectations thanks to high demand for its iPhones, and the company said tariffs had a limited effect on the fiscal second quarter’s results. Cook added that for the current quarter, assuming things don’t change, Apple expects to see $900 million added to its costs as a result of the tariffs.
