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Why do women still earn less than men? Decomposing the Dutch gender pay gap, 1996-2006

Author

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  • Eva Fransen

    (U.S.E. - Utrecht School of Economics - Universiteit Utrecht / Utrecht University [Utrecht])

  • Janneke Plantenga

    (U.S.E. - Utrecht School of Economics - Universiteit Utrecht / Utrecht University [Utrecht])

  • Jan Dirk Vlasblom

    (U.S.E. - Utrecht School of Economics - Universiteit Utrecht / Utrecht University [Utrecht])

Abstract

Despite major improvements in women's labour market attachment, women still earn considerably less than men. International research shows that the persistence of the gender pay gap may be due to the fact that although the gap in characteristics between men and women is diminishing, changes in the wage structure counteract this change. This article will study whether this 'swimming upstream' phenomenon is also playing a role in the rather slow convergence between male and female wages in The Netherlands. Our results indicate that this is not the case; most of the changes in the Dutch wage structure have been rather favourable to women. The lacking convergence in wages has to be explained from the fact that despite the favourable changes, the Dutch wage structure still contains a considerable implicit gender bias.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva Fransen & Janneke Plantenga & Jan Dirk Vlasblom, 2011. "Why do women still earn less than men? Decomposing the Dutch gender pay gap, 1996-2006," Post-Print hal-00719069, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00719069
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2011.589818
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-00719069
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    References listed on IDEAS

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