Gender Wage Gaps, ‘Sticky Floors’ and ‘Glass Ceilings’ in Europe

A Discussion Paper (2013-01) by Louis N. Christofides, Alexandros Polycarpou and Konstantinos Vrachimis (University of Cyprus) published by College of Management and Economics, Guelph, Ontario, Canada and University of Guelph Department of Economics and Finance (January 2013)

Abstract

We consider and attempt to understand the gender wage gap across 26 European countries, using 2007 data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions. The size of the gender wage gap varies considerably across countries, definitions of the gap, and selection-correction mechanisms. Most of the gap cannot be explained by the characteristics available in this data set. Quantile regressions show that, in a number of countries, the wage gap is wider at the top (‘glass ceilings’) and/or at the bottom of the wage distribution (‘sticky floors’). We find larger mean/median gender gaps and more evidence of glass ceilings for full-time full-year employees, suggesting more female disadvantage in ‘better’ jobs. These features may be related to country-specific policies that cannot be evaluated at the individual country level, at a point in time. We use the cross-country variation in the unexplained wage gaps of this larger-than-usual sample of states to explore the influence of

1. country policies that reconcile work and family life and
2. their wage-setting institutions.

We find that country policies and institutions are related to features of their unexplained gender wage gaps in systematic, quantitatively important, ways.

JEL Classification: J16, J31, J50, C21

Full text (PDF 44pp)

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Gender earning gaps around the world: a study of 64 countries

an article by Hugo Ñopo and Nancy Daza (Economic Studies Unit, National Planning Department, Bogotá, Colombia) and Johanna Ramos (Office of Evaluation and Oversight, Inter-American Development Bank, USA) published in International Journal of Manpower Volume 33 Issue 5 (2012)

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze gender disparities in labour earnings for a comprehensive set of 64 countries.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the methodological approach proposed by Ñopo, socio-demographic characteristics are used to match males and females such that gender earnings disparities are computed only among individuals with the same observable characteristics.
Findings
Disparities are partially attributed to gender differences in observable socio-demographic and job characteristics. After matching males and females with the same characteristics, the authors found that the earnings gap falls within a range between 8 per cent and 48 per cent of average females’ earnings, being more pronounced in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The unexplained earnings gaps are more pronounced among part-time workers and those with low education levels.
Originality/value
This paper presents a comprehensive view of gender earnings gaps in the world, simultaneously exploring many of the issues highlighted in the related literature. It adds value by exploring gender gaps in a comparative perspective, applying the same methods for several different countries.

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