The Saudi government’s decision to lift the ban that prohibits women from driving in the Kingdom is clearly a positive step for women’s rights and could potentially have a significant economic impact by increasing the very low female labour force participation rate and boosting potential GDP growth. But we would caution that there remain many other hurdles that hinder the employment of women in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, having given ground on this issue, the religious establishment may try to reassert its authority on other reforms, such as changes to the education system.
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