Where women are leading the way

This week's top stories: For years, America's most upbeat retailer funded surveillance to make inner cities safe — for some. Now it's trying to convince people of color that it's changed. While a slew of legislatures have passed restrictions on voting rights after the 2020 election, these states are making it easier to cast a ballot. Tuition subsidies, self-defense courses, and husband-and-wife driving teams are being rolled out to entice more female drivers into the cabs of big rigs. A 34-year-old from India's lowest class is challenging Modi's party. In China, the Communist Party has vowed to promote the welfare of all people and redistribute income to achieve "common prosperity."

Sweden, the only Nordic nation not led by a woman, has just moved one step closer to electing its first female prime minister after the sudden resignation of Stefan Lofven.  Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson deftly navigated the Swedish economy through the coronavirus crisis and is viewed as the obvious replacement, though she has yet to comment on whether she intends to stand. Her potential ascension doesn't come as a surprise in a country that routinely ranks among the top scorers on gender equality.   What Sweden, and its Nordic peers, have managed to do well is ensure the building blocks toward a more equitable society are in place by making provisions for both men and women to take parental leave and introducing more quotas for women in business and politics.  Sanna Marin, left, and Magdalena Andersson Photographers: Roni Rekomaa/Mikael Sjoberg/Bloomberg About 47% of seats in the Swedish parliament and 57.1% of ministerial posts are held by women, according to this year's Global Gender Gap report from the World Economic Forum. And while some developed nations have long argued against quotas for equality, the U.S. rankings illustrate how statistics could swing widely depending on who is in power. The share of women in Congress rose from 23.6% to 27.3% and those in ministerial positions from 21.7% to 46.2% under the Biden administration. (Still, the U.S. ranks No. 30 in the report.) The case for institutionally safeguarding the progress women make is being viscerally made in Afghanistan right now. A spokesman for Taliban said the radical Islamist group would respect women's rights within the framework of sharia law but reports are already emerging of women disappearing from public spaces.   Equality "happens when it is taken into account in all walks of life and policy," Finland's premier Sanna Marin told Bloomberg this week. "Nordic welfare societies are egalitarian because they understand how broad a concept equality is and that it requires action in all policy sectors."  Marin should know. Finland ranked second in the WEF's 2021 report, right after Iceland and before Norway.   - Ruth David

By the numbers

Many of the athletes taking their place on the podium of the Tokyo Paralympic Games may find themselves left with cash prizes smaller than their Olympic counterparts, running against the event's ideals of promoting equality.

New Voices "Figuring out how to message it will be really important for those groups on the ground." Liz Hamel Director of survey research at the Kaiser Family Foundation on convincing Black and Hispanic vaccine holdouts. Bloomberg News supports amplifying the voices of women and other under-represented executives across our media platforms.

Sponsored Content We can build a more equitable, sustainable future—for all.  A new model of leadership and collaboration is needed to deliver diversity, equity and inclusion.  Let's go Further. BAIN & COMPANY From our partners at Historically Black colleges and universities have long played an integral role in the American landscape. They are now a critical part of President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan. For U.S. Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the devastating situation in Haiti feels personal. This week, she described the situation in the Caribbean country as "heart wrenching" but hopeful. Kobe Bryant was more than an iconic basketball player. On what would have been his 43rd birthday month, here's a look at his life and legacy lessons. Bloomberg Media and EBONY are partnering to explore economic and societal inequities facing the Black community. Subscribe to Inside EBONY for more news from EBONY.com.

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