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Equal Pay for Better Health: The Health Cost of the Gender Wage Gap

Author

Listed:
  • Averett, Susan L.

    (Lafayette College)

  • Biener, Adam

    (Lafayette College)

  • Ogrokhina, Olena

    (Lafayette College)

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between gender wage gaps and women's overall health. Using data from the 2011-2019 Current Population Survey, we employ entropy balancing to create comparable samples of men and women and estimate wage gaps for full-time employed working-age women. Adjusting for individual, occupation, and industry characteristics, we estimate the association between wage gaps and self-rated health. Our results suggest that closing the wage gap results in a 1.2 percent reduction in women reporting poor or fair health, equivalent to nearly 170,000 fewer women. These effects are more pronounced for women with below-median wages or in male-dominated jobs.

Suggested Citation

  • Averett, Susan L. & Biener, Adam & Ogrokhina, Olena, 2024. "Equal Pay for Better Health: The Health Cost of the Gender Wage Gap," IZA Discussion Papers 17277, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17277
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Claudia Goldin, 2014. "A Grand Gender Convergence: Its Last Chapter," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 104(4), pages 1091-1119, April.
    2. repec:hal:pseose:halshs-01155641 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Jylhä, Marja, 2009. "What is self-rated health and why does it predict mortality? Towards a unified conceptual model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 307-316, August.
    4. Platt, Jonathan & Prins, Seth & Bates, Lisa & Keyes, Katherine, 2016. "Unequal depression for equal work? How the wage gap explains gendered disparities in mood disorders," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1-8.
    5. Benedicte Apouey & Andrew E. Clark, 2015. "Winning Big but Feeling no Better? The Effect of Lottery Prizes on Physical and Mental Health," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(5), pages 516-538, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    JEL classification:

    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • F34 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Lending and Debt Problems
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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