In the past 50 years women’s legal status has improved all over the world. But many laws still make it difficult for women to fully participate in economic life—whether by getting jobs or starting businesses. Discriminatory rules bar women from certain jobs, restrict access to capital for women-owned firms and limit women’s capacity to make legal decisions. Gender differences in laws affect both developing and developed economies, and women in all regions.

Women, Business and the Law 2014: Removing Restrictions to Enhance Gender Equality analyzes laws that impact women entrepreneurs and employees globally. The new edition highlights reforms carried out over the past two years and expands coverage to examine legal protections addressing violence against women.