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Why the Gender Gap in Wages Narrowed in the 1980s
Abstract
Since 1976 the gender gap in wages on average declined by about 1% per year. This article focuses on identifying the factors underlying this trend. Three data sets are analyzed-the Current Population Survey, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, and the National Longitudinal Survey. We find that convergence in measurable work-related characteristics (schooling and work experience) explains one-third to one-half the narrowing. The remainder is attributable to a relative increase in women's returns to experience as well as to declining wages in blue-collar work and other factors.
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Citations
Cited by
The Quiet Revolution That Transformed Women's Employment, Education, and Family
Goldin, C. (2006) · American Economic Review · doi:10.1257/000282806777212350 · Cited by 1,831
Chapter 48 Race and gender in the labor market
Altonji, J. G., & Blank, R. M. (1999) · Handbook of Labor Economics · doi:10.1016/s1573-4463(99)30039-0 · Cited by 981
The Gender Pay Gap: Have Women Gone as Far as They Can?
Blau, F. D., & Kahn, L. M. (2007) · Academy of Management Perspectives · doi:10.5465/amp.2007.24286161 · Cited by 554
THE FAMILY GAP IN PAY: EVIDENCE FROM SEVEN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES
Harkness, S., & Waldfogel, J. (2004) · Research in Labor Economics · doi:10.1016/s0147-9121(03)22012-4 · Cited by 277
Metadata
- Authors
- O'Neill, J., & Polachek, S.
- Venue
- Journal of Labor Economics
- Publisher
- University of Chicago Press
- Published
- 1993-01
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 1, Part 1
- Pages
- 205-228
- ISSN
- 0734-306X (ISSN-L)
- 1537-5307
- OpenAlex
- W2114932053
- Cited by
- 407
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 30.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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