Saudi Arabia’s move to allow women to vote (and run) in municipal elections, and to be appointed to the Shoura Council, is an important and positive political move. But the economic benefits are likely to be limited. The big gain to the economy would instead come through raising female participation in the labour market. If this were to be increased to even the low levels seen elsewhere in the Arab World, this could raise GDP growth by more than half a percent a year over the next two decades.
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