Women, business and the law focuses on this critical piece of the puzzle, objectively highlighting differentiations on the basis of gender in 141 economies around the world, covering six areas: accessing institutions, using property, getting a job, providing incentives to work, building credit and going to court. Women, business and the law describes regional trends and shows how economies are changing across these six areas, tracking governments' actions to expand economic opportunities for women. For men and women throughout the developing world, the chance to start and run a business or get a good job is the surest hope for a way out of poverty. It also requires good business regulation, suited to the purpose, streamlined and accessible, so that the opportunity to build a business or have a good job is dependent not on connections, wealth or power, but on an individual's initiative and ability. The doing business report has led the way in providing data to countries about creating a sounder and more streamlined business environment. Women, Business, and the Law 2012 are the second in this series of reports. This edition retains the same basic structure of the 2010 pilot edition, while significantly expanding the depth of data covered. While the number of topics covered is the same, there has been a significant expansion of the data collected within these topics, thus addressing some of the initial shortcomings of the pilot edition. The number of economies covered has also been expanded from 128 to 141.

This study was undertaken by the Center for Women (ECW) at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in the context of a regional programme to review progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action in the Arab region. The study was authored by Ms. Stephanie Jung, Social Affairs Officer at ESCWA. Chapter three, section A of the study (‘Women and girls’ access to health care’) benefitted from a research brief prepared by Ms. Julianne Deitch, Associate Social Affairs Officer at ESCWA. Chapter four (‘Women’s access to formal work’) draws in part from a background paper prepared by Ms. Nadereh Chamlou, independent consultant, and also reflects substantive inputs from Ms. Lamia Bulbul, independent consultant. Ms. Jade Lansing, Research Assistant, provided research inputs. Mr. Jesse Rester reviewed and edited the manuscript. The study has also benefited from the substantive contributions and comments from other ECW and ESCWA staff members

This report is the third OECD flagship publication on trends, causes and remedies to growing inequalities. The 2008 report Growing Unequal? documented and analysed the key features and patterns of trends in income inequality in OECD countries. The 2011 publication Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising analysed the deep-rooted reasons for rising inequality in advanced and most emerging economies. In It Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All highlights the key areas where inequalities originate and where new policy approaches are required. It takes a fresh look at the question how trends in inequality have affected economic growth and through which channels; looks at the consequences of the recent period of crisis and fiscal consolidation on household incomes; analyses the impact of structural labour market changes, such as rising nonstandard work, job polarisation and profound changes in women’s employment and earnings; documents levels of wealth concentration and indebtedness; and discusses the role for redistribution policies in OECD and emerging economies. The report also discusses a range of promising policy practices to tackle high inequality and promote equality of opportunities.

OECD co-operation with the Middle East and North Africa facilitates a greater participation of Arab countries in the work of OECD bodies. Associates participate in OECD bodies, including projects or the development or revision of OECD legal instruments, for an open-ended period, with the same rights and obligations as OECD members. Participants take part in OECD bodies for an open-ended period, except in discussions marked as confidential.