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The Greedy Jobs Phenomenon as a Driving Force Behind the Gender Pay Gap: A Systematic Review

Author

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  • Nick Deschachtⓡ

    (KU Leuven)

  • Sunčica Vujićⓡ

    (University of Antwerp
    VU Amsterdam
    University of Bath
    IZA)

  • Oscar Frison

    (KU Leuven
    University of Antwerp)

Abstract

Greedy jobs can be defined as jobs in which temporal flexibility for workers is costly to organize and in which there are rewards for long hours and constant availability to employers. Despite the mechanisms underlying this concept being familiar to labor economists studying the determinants of the gender wage gap, the label greedy work is not widely utilized in the literature on gender inequality. We therefore provide an identification and systematic review of articles that (implicitly) relate the gender wage gap to greedy jobs. Our findings underscore the importance of policy interventions aimed at promoting workplace flexibility, worker substitutability, provision of affordable childcare solutions, and cash transfers to parents, making jobs less greedy and therefore more compatible with tasks at home.

Suggested Citation

  • Nick Deschachtⓡ & Sunčica Vujićⓡ & Oscar Frison, 2025. "The Greedy Jobs Phenomenon as a Driving Force Behind the Gender Pay Gap: A Systematic Review," De Economist, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 177-204, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:decono:v:173:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10645-024-09444-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10645-024-09444-4
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Greedy jobs hypothesis; Gender pay gap; Permanent availability; Job non-substitutability;
    All these keywords.

    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
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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