The long tail of the Great Recession: foregone employment and foregone policies

The Great Recession furnishes a significant field of research for the analysis of trends in employment and national policies from a gender perspective. We argue that it is necessary to take a holistic view of the consequences of the recession both on the labour market and on labour market policies. In the context of widespread rises in female employment rates prior to the crisis, we highlight foregone employment growth, as well as the differing responses of women's and men's activity patterns. Furthermore, our review of European Union and national policies shows how advances based upon previous policy gains were also foregone. The position of gender equality in policy-making was challenged as governments responded to the crisis by "reverting to type" and weakening gender equality commitments.