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Gender wage gap trends in Europe: The role of occupational skill prices

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  • Ezgi Kaya

Abstract

This paper explores gender wage gap trends by assessing the role of changing wage returns to occupational skills, brains (i.e. cognitive and interpersonal skills) and brawn (i.e. motor skills and physical strength). Using harmonized data for six European countries and comparable data for the United States, this paper finds substantial variation in the impact of occupational skill prices across countries. However, in all countries in the sample, a considerable portion of the change in the gender wage gap cannot be explained by changes in occupational skill prices.

Suggested Citation

  • Ezgi Kaya, 2023. "Gender wage gap trends in Europe: The role of occupational skill prices," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 162(3), pages 385-405, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:intlab:v:162:y:2023:i:3:p:385-405
    DOI: 10.1111/ilr.12338
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