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The Gender Wage Gap among Ph.D. Holders: Evidence from Italy

Author

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  • Alfano Vincenzo

    (Dipartimento di Strutture per l'Ingegneria e l'Architettura, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II & Center for Economic Studies - CES-ifo, Corso Umberto I, 40, Napoli 80138, Italy)

  • Cicatiello Lorenzo
  • Gaeta Giuseppe Lucio

    (Department of Human and Social Sciences, Universita degli Studi di Napoli L’Orientale Dipartimento di Scienze Umane e Sociali, 30 largo san giovanni maggiore, Napoli80134, Campania, Italy)

  • Pinto Mauro

    (Department of Political Science Jean Monnet, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Viale Ellittico 31, Caserta, Napoli80138, Italy, Italy)

Abstract

This paper contributes to the literature on the gender wage gap by empirically analyzing those workers who hold the highest possible educational qualification, i.e., a Ph.D. The analysis relies on recent Italian cross-sectional data collected through a survey on the employment conditions of Ph.D. holders. The Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition analysis and quantile decomposition analysis are carried out, and the selection of Ph.D. holders into employment and STEM/non-STEM fields of specialization is taken into account. Findings suggest that a gender gap in hourly wages exists among Ph.D. holders, with sizeable differences by sector of employment and field of specialization.

Suggested Citation

  • Alfano Vincenzo & Cicatiello Lorenzo & Gaeta Giuseppe Lucio & Pinto Mauro, 2021. "The Gender Wage Gap among Ph.D. Holders: Evidence from Italy," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 21(3), pages 1107-1148, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:21:y:2021:i:3:p:1107-1148:n:7
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2020-0319
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender wage gap; return on education; Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition; quantile decomposition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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