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The Persistence of Gender Earnings Inequality in Taiwan, 1978–1992

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  • Joseph E. Zveglich Jr.
  • Yana van der Meulen Rodgers
  • William M. Rodgers III

Abstract

During the 1980s, Taiwan's industry and export mixes shifted toward higher-skill, technology-intensive products, and lower-skill, labor-intensive industries began moving abroad. Despite improvements in women's skills and educational attainment relative to men's, the mean gender earnings ratio between 1978 and 1992 remained at 65%. The authors analyze household survey data from Taiwan's Manpower Utilization Survey to examine why rapid structural change was not accompanied by a narrowing of the gender gap. The results strongly suggest that large losses experienced by women in unmeasured gender-specific factors—which could reflect the effects of labor market intermittency, growing gender differences in unobserved skills, or an increase in wage discrimination against women—offset their relative gains in education and experience. Further evidence provides no support for a widening gender gap in labor force commitment or in unobserved skills, suggesting that wage discrimination against female workers increased over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph E. Zveglich Jr. & Yana van der Meulen Rodgers & William M. Rodgers III, 1997. "The Persistence of Gender Earnings Inequality in Taiwan, 1978–1992," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 50(4), pages 594-609, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:50:y:1997:i:4:p:594-609
    DOI: 10.1177/001979399705000403
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    Cited by:

    1. Ebru Kongar & Mark Price, 2007. "Is White the New Blue? The Impact on Gender Wage and Employment Differentials of Offshoring of White-collar Jobs in the United States," Working Paper Series, Department of Economics, University of Utah 2007_08, University of Utah, Department of Economics.
    2. Jessica L. Baraka, 1999. "The Gap Remains: Gender and Earnings in Taiwan," Working Papers 221, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Research Program in Development Studies..
    3. Günseli Berik & Yana Meulen Rodgers & Joseph E. Zveglich, 2004. "Does Trade Promote Gender Wage Equity? Evidence from East Asia," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: William Milberg (ed.), Labor and the Globalization of Production, chapter 7, pages 146-178, Palgrave Macmillan.
    4. Zveglich, Joseph E. & van der Meulen Rodgers, Yana & Laviña, Editha A., 2019. "Expected work experience and the gender wage gap: A new human capital measure," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 372-383.
    5. Chuang, Hwei-Lin & Lin, Eric S. & Chiu, Shih-Yung, 2018. "The gender wage gap in the financial industry: Evidence from the interindustry ranking," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 246-258.
    6. Du, Yao & Chan, Chia-Ying & Lin, Chih-Yung & Lu, Chien-Lin, 2023. "Charitable CEOs and employee protection," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    7. Yana van der Meulen Rodgers, 2011. "Maternal Employment and Child Health," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 12878, August.
    8. Pham Hoang Van, 2009. "Dutch Disease in the Labor Market: Women, Services, and Industrialization," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 560-575, November.

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