Data provider Equileap’s inaugural 2024 Gender Equality Report & Ranking has found that companies based in emerging markets (EMs) are outpacing developed markets on gender equality. Equileap assessed 1,424 publicly companies across 24 EMs, using the Solactive framework for emerging markets, which represents 43 million employees around the globe. The findings showed that only 13% of assessed US-based companies disclosed gender pay information, compared to 65% or more of companies based in Taiwan, India and South Korea. In addition, though 69% of US-based companies published anti-sexual harassment policies – India, Taiwan and South Korea logged publication rates of 100%, 96% and 87% respectively. Meanwhile, in the UK, just 45% of companies published anti-sexual harassment policies. “Our findings illuminate an important global market, teeming with financial opportunities and innovation, where companies are demonstrating efforts to advance gender equality,” said Diana van Maasdijk, CEO at Equileap. “Now that the data is available, investors can play a crucial role in promoting gender equality in these vibrant markets.” In addition, Equileap and Solactive have launched the Emerging Markets Gender Equality Index, which comprises over 600 companies. The index’s back-test performance, which has been running since 2019, has resulted in an annual 25% outperformance of its benchmark.
