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Is Gender Pay Discrimination on the Wane? Evidence from Panel Data, 1968–1989

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  • Javed Ashraf

Abstract

Previous studies of the gender pay gap in the United States have found a narrowing of that gap in the past two decades, but have differed substantially in the reported magnitude of that change. This study calculates gender earnings differences using Panel Study of Income Dynamics data for 1968–89, a longer time series than has been examined by any similar study. It also employs improved statistical techniques, notably an adjustment for selection bias and a recently recommended modification of the most commonly used decomposition technique. The author finds a significant decline both in the portion of the differential due to observed differences between men's and women's characteristics and in the “unexplained†component, which is often attributed to discrimination. The results of one analysis show that over the 1968–89 period the gender pay gap narrowed to as little as 47%.

Suggested Citation

  • Javed Ashraf, 1996. "Is Gender Pay Discrimination on the Wane? Evidence from Panel Data, 1968–1989," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 49(3), pages 537-546, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:49:y:1996:i:3:p:537-546
    DOI: 10.1177/001979399604900310
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Francine D. Blau & Andrea H. Beller, 1988. "Trends in Earnings Differentials by Gender, 1971–1981," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 41(4), pages 513-529, July.
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    5. David Neumark, 1988. "Employers' Discriminatory Behavior and the Estimation of Wage Discrimination," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 23(3), pages 279-295.
    6. James Heckman, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    7. Fuchs, Victor R, 1986. "His and Hers: Gender Differences in Work and Income, 1959-1979," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(3), pages 245-272, July.
    8. Cotton, Jeremiah, 1988. "On the Decomposition of Wage Differentials," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 70(2), pages 236-243, May.
    9. Dolton, P J & Makepeace, G H, 1986. "Sample Selection and Male-Female Earnings Differentials in the Graduate Labour Market," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 38(2), pages 317-341, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Eric J. Solberg, 2005. "The Gender Pay Gap by Occupation: A Test of the Crowding Hypothesis," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 23(1), pages 129-148, January.
    2. repec:eee:labchp:v:3:y:1999:i:pc:p:3143-3259 is not listed on IDEAS

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