Unlocking Women's Economic Potential: A Conversation with Christine Lagarde - Talking Development

Equal opportunity for women isn’t only a matter of fairness, it’s an economic growth strategy. In this episode of Talking Development, World Bank Managing Director Anna Bjerde and Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank explore what the Women, Business and the Law 2026 findings reveal, and what it will take to unlock women’s economic potential. How expanding women’s economic participation strengthens productivity, improves resilience, and drives measurable gains for countries and communities. Why closing gender gaps can drive higher GDP and productivity. Where inequality compounds across a woman’s life cycle (workforce entry, promotions, caregiving, retirement) and what the evidence says works: childcare investment, financial literacy, and gender budgeting How the Women, Business and the Law 2026 findings help policymakers track progress from laws → implementation → enforcement. 00:00 Unlocking women’s economic potential 01:01 The economic case for equality 04:00 Why life is a race for women 10:15 The rights gap: what the data shows 15:15 Women in leadership: what still needs to change 💬 Subtitles (CC) available ABOUT US 🌐 The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development on a livable planet. http://www.worldbank.org