The Gender Pay Gap in EU Countries — New Evidence Based on EU-SES 2014 Data

Abstract

Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte.Gender differences in wages are a persistent pattern in most European countries. This study analyses the earnings divide between men and women and the driving forces behind it in 26 countries. In 2014, the cross-country gender pay gap stood at 14.2%. However, countrylevel results differ tremendously with high gaps of more than 20% in Estonia and Germany and gaps below 5% in Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Romania. While part of the earnings divide can be explained by gendered sector affi liation and the high share of atypical employment among women, a large portion of the gender pay gap remains unexplained by the data. Even though the gender pay gap statistics are unable to identify the (non-)existence of discrimination, it still calls for diverse measures both at the state and the fi rm level.

Gender Income Gap Over Life-Cycle: Cross-Country Analysis

“…The lowest unconditional median gap, which is in favour of men, is reported for Slovenia (0.061 log points). This is also in line with the findings of Boll and Lagemann (2018). In Latvia and Estonia, the unconditional and conditional median gaps are lower compared to the previous age group, where these indicators were the largest.…”

“…In this age group the unexplained employment gap is the lowest in Romania (0.087 log points). The recent study by Boll and Lagemann (2018) also provides evidence that in Romania there is lowest unconditional and conditional employment income gaps. In 15 out of 25 countries, the explained part of the total gap is in favour of women (there countries are: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.).…”

“…see Balleer et al (2009), Altoji and Blank (1999)), However, there still exists substantial gap between earnings of men and women (e.g. see Boll and Lagemann (2018)). Since wages constitute the largest component of total earnings, the gender wage gap has become the most widely studied topic in terms of gender inequality.…”

Discourses and critiques of breastfeeding and their implications for midwives and health professionals

“…An alternative social organisation that offers extended paid maternity leave and protections to mitigate the negative impact of maternity leave on career progression without financially penalising either female workers or employers has been suggested (Strang & Broeks, ). In addition, parental leave systems that stimulate fathers' family support have been proposed (Boll & Lagemann, ). A levelling mechanism to address female disadvantage in the world of paid employment to create equitable life opportunities (or at least in as much as is possible) for both sexes is a complex matter for society, but it is not impossible that the choice to breastfeed for up to six months of the infant's life may be accommodated in future employment practices without jeopardising the career prospects of the mother.…”

The concept of labour migration from the perspective of Central and Eastern Europe

“…The gender roles are more severely distinguished in the eastern world; one can think of Eastern Europe, the Middle East (Arabic states) or the Far East, especially of the extremely conservative Japan. Gender differentiation is behind the wage gap between females and males that is narrower in Belgium, than in Hungary for instance (Boll & Lagemann, 2018). So, evidently, females can expect better salaries.…”