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Gender and the Labour Market: An International Perspective and the case of Italy

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  • Claudia Olivetti

    (Boston University and NBER)

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the literature on international di¤erences in the gender wage gap. It then focuses on the Italian case and analyzes di¤erentials in gender wage and employment gaps across regions. The cross-regional variation reproduces the negative correlation between wage and employment gaps observed at the cross-country level. Using the methodology in Olivetti and Petrongolo (2008) the paper shows the importance of sample selection induced by non-employment in explaining the cross-regional variation. The results show that selection-adjusted wage gaps are higher than actual wage gaps in most cases. However, this difference is small in the northern Italian regions and becomes sizeable for central and southern regions. Selection correction can explain from 10% to most of the observed negative cross-regional correlation between wage and employment gaps across genders in Italy.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Olivetti, "undated". "Gender and the Labour Market: An International Perspective and the case of Italy," Boston University - Department of Economics - Working Papers Series wp2009-010, Boston University - Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:bos:wpaper:wp2009-010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barbara Petrongolo, 2004. "Gender Segregation in Employment Contracts," Journal of the European Economic Association, MIT Press, vol. 2(2-3), pages 331-345, 04/05.
    2. Francine D. Blau & Lawrence M. Kahn, 2006. "The U.S. Gender Pay Gap in the 1990S: Slowing Convergence," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 60(1), pages 45-66, October.
    3. Boeri, Tito & Del Boca, Daniela & Pissarides, Christopher (ed.), 2005. "Women at Work: An Economic Perspective," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199281886.
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    5. Claudia Olivetti & Barbara Petrongolo, 2008. "Unequal Pay or Unequal Employment? A Cross-Country Analysis of Gender Gaps," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(4), pages 621-654, October.
    6. Francine D. Blau & Lawrence M. Kahn, 2003. "Understanding International Differences in the Gender Pay Gap," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 21(1), pages 106-144, January.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • 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

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