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Changes in Workplace Heterogeneity and How They Widen the Gender Wage Gap

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  • Benjamin Bruns

Abstract

Using linked employer-employee data for West Germany, I investigate the role of growing wage differentials between firms in the slowdown of gender wage convergence since the 1990s. The results show that two factors are at play: first, high-wage firms experience higher wage growth and employ disproportionately more men, and second, male firm premiums grow faster than female premiums in the same firms. These developments were catalyzed by a decline of union coverage, coupled with more firm-specific wage setting in collective bargaining agreements. Taken together, these conditions prevented the gender gap from narrowing by approximately 15 percent between the 1990s and 2000s.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Bruns, 2019. "Changes in Workplace Heterogeneity and How They Widen the Gender Wage Gap," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 11(2), pages 74-113, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:11:y:2019:i:2:p:74-113
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/app.20160664
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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