Women who work outside their homes need to procure a range of services, including child care, cooking or tailoring, that they would otherwise most likely carry out as non-paying tasks. This new demand for services results in job creation and economic opportunities for others. Meanwhile, female employment also leads to an increase in household purchasing power and broadens the available talent pool in the economy.228 Therefore, facilitating women’s formal entry in the economy as workers, consumers and investors raises potential economic outputs and wealth.229 A study covering 18 Arab countries found that GDP losses due to the gender gap amounted to 27 per cent.230 Moreover, resources in women’s hands entail a range of positive outcomes for human capital and capabilities within the household, and can be used for improving the health and education of their children.