A citymaker’s guide to… the Care Economy : What is the cost of overlooking care?

The Care Economy as a catalyst for thriving cities

Julia Munroe, Policy Officer, 2025

Care is the invisible backbone of our societies, yet it remains undervalued and underfunded. Representing 9% of global GDP—three times the tech sector—unpaid care work sustains cities, economies, and communities. This policy brief explores how cities can transform care from a hidden burden into a catalyst for thriving, equitable urban futures.

From Buenos Aires’ Caregiving Map to Bogotá’s School of Men Who Care, it highlights innovative approaches to recognize, redistribute, and invest in care as a public good.

This sheet summarises the full document, which is available to download.

To download : metropolis_layout_care_web.pdf (1.1 MiB)

The Stakes: Why Care Matters for Cities

The Invisible Crisis

Care—whether paid or unpaid—is the social infrastructure that makes all other work possible. Yet, it remains informal, undervalued, and underfunded, despite representing 9% of global GDP ($11 trillion), three times the size of the tech sector (ILO, 2018). By 2030, the number of care receivers is projected to reach 2.3 billion, driven by aging populations (MAEUEC, 2024). Without investment, this will exacerbate gender inequality, as 76% of caregivers are women, many of whom are forced to abandon employment due to unpaid care responsibilities.

Key Risks of Underfunding Care:


Care is the silent force that holds societies together—yet it is treated as an afterthought. The cost of ignoring it is not just economic; it is human. Without care, cities cannot function, economies cannot thrive, and communities cannot heal. The time to act is now, before the invisible becomes irreversible.

How Cities Are Addressing the Care Crisis: Lessons from the Field

Understanding Local Care Needs: Mapping the Baseline

Cities must diagnose care gaps through data to design effective policies.

Integrating Care: Proximity, Flexibility, and Accessibility

Cities can leverage existing infrastructure to reduce care burdens without major new spending.

Leading by Example: Progressive Employment Policies

Cities can set standards for decent care work through legislation and workplace reforms.

Reducing Precarity: Supporting Informal Care Workers

Cities can provide direct support to informal caregivers through cash transfers, training, and legal protections.

A Cultural Shift: Challenging Gender Norms

Cities must destigmatize men’s role in care to redistribute responsibilities.

Fostering Collaboration: A Whole-of-Society Approach

Multi-stakeholder partnerships ensure cost-efficiency and inclusivity.


From the bustling streets of Istanbul to the innovative classrooms of Bogotá, cities are reimagining care as a shared responsibility. These examples prove that change is possible—when political will meets community action. The question is no longer why care matters, but how we can build systems that value it as the foundation of urban life.

Recommendations: A Roadmap for Cities

Critical Questions for Policymakers

  1. Data: Does your city collect gender-disaggregated data on time use and care needs?

  2. Integration: How is care embedded in budgets, policies, and urban planning?

  3. Infrastructure: Can existing services (e.g., schools, clinics) be co-located or coordinated to reduce care burdens?

  4. Equity: Are care services accessible, affordable, and responsive to diverse needs?

  5. Collaboration: How does your city engage caregivers, civil society, and the private sector in care policies?

  6. Culture: Is your city challenging gender norms to redistribute care work fairly?

Actionable Steps


The care economy is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Cities that invest in care today will reap the rewards of stronger economies, healthier communities, and more resilient societies tomorrow. The choice is clear: act now, or pay the price later.

Sources

Online document: A citymaker’s guide to… the Care Economy

To go further

Website: www.metropolis.org