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Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors in France: Quantile and Frontier Hedonic Wage Analysis of the Gender Pay Gap

Author

Listed:
  • Audrey DUMAS

    (Université de Perpignan, CDED, 52 Avenue Villeneuve, Perpignan F-66000, France)

  • Kristiaan KERSTENS

    (IESEG School of Management, Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 9221 - LEM - Lille Economie Management, F-59000 Lille, France)

  • Poleth VEGA RUALES

    (Université de Perpignan, CDED, 52 Avenue Villeneuve, Perpignan F-66000, France)

Abstract

This paper examines the gender pay gap by focusing on the glass ceiling and sticky floor effects. First, we use parametric methods based on the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition which measure the adjusted average wage difference between men and women. Second, for comparison, we propose an original approach based on a nonparametric double hedonic wage frontier. This method evaluates how far each individual’s wage is from both the maximum (upper frontier) and minimum (lower frontier) potential salary they could obtain given their characteristics, thereby capturing the glass ceiling and sticky floor effects, respectively. Using 2022 French labour-market data, the nonparametric analysis shows that the gender pay gap is larger than what parametric methods suggest. We confirm that the glass ceiling effect is the more severe issue. Financial and insurance activities display the strongest glass ceiling and sticky floor effects, while employment in the public sector offers women better protection from these inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Audrey DUMAS & Kristiaan KERSTENS & Poleth VEGA RUALES, 2026. "Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors in France: Quantile and Frontier Hedonic Wage Analysis of the Gender Pay Gap," Working Papers 2026-EQM-01, IESEG School of Management.
    • Handle: RePEc:ies:wpaper:e202603
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    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • 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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