The Untapped Economic Potential of Including Women in the Digital Economy in the APEC Region

This study aimed to perform an economic estimate of the untapped potential of including women in the digital economy in the APEC region. Data from the Economist Intelligence Unit and the World Bank’s Gender Data Portal were used to construct indicators of access to the internet and STEM careers. Different sources of data were used to explore economic determinants. A socio-economic model was calibrated to find significant variables in female access to the digital economy. The most relevant variables were educational variables, cost of access to technology, infrastructure, and government policies. The cost of the untapped economic potential of including women in the digital economy was estimated for 2020 at 94 billion dollars in the APEC region. APEC economies should promote efforts to ensure the availability and frequency of measurement of gender-related indicators to determine if women are effectively accessing the digital economy.