In addition, since 1979, women have accounted for a majority of the rise in real household income. In dollar terms, the gains were greatest for households in the top third of the earnings distribution, but without the increase in women’s earnings, families in the bottom and middle thirds of the distribution would have experienced declines.
This included measures such as increasing the transaction limits and removal or reduction of fees. There was also direct fiscal support to a large proportion of vulnerable households and businesses. Transfers to households took the form of food distribution, school meals, lowering of the utility bills and tax waivers. 16.