Marilyn Waring

At age 23, Marilyn Waring became the youngest member of the New Zealand Parliament in 1975, representing the centre-right New Zealand National Party. Her legislative career, marked by her chairing of the Public Expenditure Committee, reached a turning point when her support for a nuclear-free New Zealand policy contributed to the 1984 general election.

Political Tenure and Transition

Waring served as a Member of Parliament from 1975 until 1984. Her entrance into politics followed a period of advising the Shadow Minister of Housing, George Gair. During her tenure, she navigated complex party dynamics, including a notable relationship with Keith Holyoake. Her decision to support the opposition Labour Party's nuclear-free stance fundamentally altered the parliamentary landscape of the time, ultimately leading to her departure from the legislature.

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Academic Contributions to Feminist Economics

Upon leaving political office, Waring shifted her focus to academia, earning a D.Phil in 1989. She established herself as a primary figure in feminist economics, gaining prominence for her 1988 book, If Women Counted. Her research challenges the methodologies of gross domestic product, arguing that traditional economic systems ignore essential unpaid labor, such as child-rearing and housekeeping, while counting destructive activities like war as economic growth.

Professional Recognition and Institutional Work

Waring has held academic positions at the University of Waikato, Massey University, and the Auckland University of Technology, where she became a full professor in 2006. Her influence extends to global policy frameworks, including involvement with the Association for Women's Rights in Development and a 2021 appointment to the WHO Council on the Economics of Health For All. Her service has been acknowledged with various honors, including being named a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2019.

Fast facts

Born: 1952, Ngāruawāhia, New Zealand
Education: Victoria University of Wellington; University of Waikato
Political Party: New Zealand National Party
Parliamentary Service: 1975–1984
Notable Work: If Women Counted (1988)
Academic Rank: Full Professor (2006)
Appointment: WHO Council on the Economics of Health For All (2021)
Major Honor: Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2019)

Questions readers ask

What is the core argument in Waring's book, If Women Counted?

She argues that current economic systems, specifically GDP, exclude essential unpaid labor—such as childcare and household work—from calculations of national productivity.