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.
An independent watchdog within the IRS reports that while taxpayer services have vastly improved, the agency is still too slow to resolve identity theft cases. And National Taxpayer Advocate Erin Collins says those delays are “unconscionable.” Erin M. Collins said in the report released Wednesday that overall the 2024 filing season went smoothly, though IRS delays in resolving identity theft victim assistance cases are worsening. It took nearly 19 months to resolve self-reported identity theft cases as of January, and Wednesday's report states that now it takes 22 months to resolve these cases.
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