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The Gender Wage Gap in France: the Role of Non-Cognitive Characteristics

Author

Listed:
  • Isabelle Bensidoun

    (Centre d’études de l’emploi, PSL, Université Paris-Dauphine, LEDa, IRD UMR DIAL)

  • Danièle Trancart

    (Centre d’études de l’emploi)

Abstract

(english) Differences between men and women in non-cognitive skills could be the reason why the gender gap closing didn’t improve since the middle of the nineties. To investigate this issue in the case of France we used the "Génération 1998 à 10 ans" database conducted by the Céreq. This survey provides information on gender preferences differences in terms of career versus family, risk attitudes or the vision individuals have of their professional futures. As these non-cognitive factors are likely to influence wages but also occupational choices, the decomposition of wage differentials proposed by Brown, Moon and Zoloth (1980) is implemented. This makes it possible to consider this indirect mechanism by which non-cognitive variables can determine wages, but also the potentially discriminatory nature of occupational segregation. We find that differences in non-cognitive skills matter, 6.3% of the total gender wage gap, that is almost twice as experience, but a large part, 60% of the gap, remains unexplained by the characteristics considered in this work. _________________________________ (français) La réduction des écarts de salaires entre les hommes et les femmes est depuis maintenant deux décennies au point mort. Le fait que les unes et les autres se distinguent en matière de caractéristiques non cognitives constitue une des raisons qui pourrait expliquer qu’il en soit ainsi. Dans ce travail, à partir de l’enquête Génération 1998 à 10 ans réalisée par le Céreq, le rôle que les préférences en termes de carrière versus famille, l’attitude face au risque ou le rapport à son avenir professionnel peuvent avoir sur les écarts de salaires est examiné. Comme ces facteurs non cognitifs sont susceptibles d’influencer les salaires mais aussi les choix professionnels, la décomposition des écarts de salaires proposée par Brown, Moon et Zoloth (1980) est mise en oeuvre. Celle-ci permet de tenir compte de ce mécanisme indirect par lequel les variables non cognitives peuvent déterminer les salaires, mais aussi du caractère potentiellement discriminatoire de la ségrégation occupationnelle. Si les différences de caractéristiques non cognitives comptent, 6,3 % de l’écart de salaires total, soit près de deux fois plus que l’expérience, 60 % restent inexpliqués par les caractéristiques retenues.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabelle Bensidoun & Danièle Trancart, 2015. "The Gender Wage Gap in France: the Role of Non-Cognitive Characteristics," Working Papers DT/2015/08, DIAL (Développement, Institutions et Mondialisation).
    • Handle: RePEc:dia:wpaper:dt201508
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender wage gap; Brown-Moon and Zoloth wage decomposition; noncognitive factors; occupational segregation.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J38 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Public Policy
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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