thefeminization of the labour force associated with a narrowing of the gap between the male and female labour force participation rates generates growth in gdp as measured both by contemporary and by lagged values and indications exist of a potentially positive effect over the medium term however an increase in the number of hours works labour intensity bears an inverse relationship to growth which could be a sign of a negative impact of a reduction in the time devoted to care work unless the shortfall is made up for by the substitution of public or private caregiving services or by the assumption of some of these tasks by other members of the household in order to verify this intuition it would be necessary to undertake an analysis of how household labour and savings are influenced by changes in the female labour supply this is the underlying condition for the feasibility of demandled growth but it is also in keeping with the preceding conclusion since although low wages in the present may boost growth wages will have to trend upward if that growth trend is to be sustained