This Compendium brings together pioneering studies conducted under SPDC’s Gender Research Programme between 2009 and 2013, designed to integrate gender perspectives into economic and social policy analysis. The research highlights the need for gender‑disaggregated data and national‑level inquiry into the political economy of inequality. The chapters span diverse themes – from public spending on education and health, trade liberalization, and employment dynamics to the socio‑economic characteristics of female‑headed households, rural non‑farm employment, displacement, and the impact of floods in Thatta. Collectively, these studies interrogate how economic reforms and social structures perpetuate gender biases, while offering evidence to guide policymakers toward inclusive strategies.
