Economic valuation of unpaid care work and its integration into regional planning

Abstract

The research analyzed the economic value of unpaid care work performed by women in Ecuador and proposed a technical and replicable methodology to incorporate it into regional economic indicators. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, utilizing microdata from the National Time Use Survey (ENUT, 2021) and interviews with institutional actors. Using the replacement cost method, the monetary value of care was estimated, showing that if it were paid, it would exceed the unified basic salary, highlighting its fundamental role in economic and social sustainability. The results revealed a significant time distribution gap: women spent an average of 60 hours per week on care, compared to 23 hours for men. This inequality reflected the persistence of a sexual division of labor and the lack of public policies that recognize the contribution of care. The SWOT analysis identified structural and institutional factors limiting its visibility but also opportunities to integrate it into territorial planning with a gender approach. As the main contribution, an indicator was proposed to measure the economic value of unpaid care work as a percentage of regional GDP, aimed at strengthening public planning and promoting policies for shared responsibility in care. The study provided a technical foundation for local governments to recognize this work as an essential component of economic development and gender equality.