Japan implemented a model of catch-up development in the second half of the twentieth century, the success of which led to the economic “miracle”. In the 21st century these economies occupy confident positions on the world arena, leading global markets of goods, services, capital, highly qualified labor, knowledge, etc. Rapid economic modernization has led to the emergence of a unique institutional system based on a combination of traditional and modern institutions. The preservation of traditional institutions is facilitated by the rapid nature of modernization (Norton D., 1991). The patriarchal family is the main unit of society, which is aimed at the socio-economic policy of the state, which thus cements the gender specificity of the distribution of responsibilities between spouses (Stepanova, 2014, Rebrey 2019). In general, the development of gender studies and, as a consequence, gender awareness, as well as the level of gender inequality as a whole, vary in the studied economies, which makes them an excellent platform for conducting gender studies, namely testing the methodology for measuring gender inequality in developed economies. The author’s methodology is based on a neo-institutional approach, within which I introduce the concept of axial institutions - these are institutions that play a fundamental role in the formation and maintenance of moral and ethical standards and public views, as well as individual value systems and worldviews. Axial institutions include the institution of the family, education, the production of knowledge, the most influential and conservative institutions that are resistant to external influences. To achieve effectiveness, gender policy must be aimed at three axial institutions at the same time, otherwise their common desire for conservatism will resist external influences, which often leads to the opposite results: instead of improving the position of women, ineffective gender policies lead to a doubling of the burden: unpaid paid work is added to domestic work and parenting. The double burden of a woman leads to low productivity in the case of low-paying jobs and to the glass ceiling in the case of high-paying jobs. Ineffective gender policies also lead to female and child poverty, and can also undermine the foundations of marriage, making it too disadvantageous for women. On a macroeconomic scale, gender inequality leads to a decrease in economic growth, a decrease in the quality and diversity of the workforce, etc.