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Exposing the Gap: Gender Inequality in Occupational Pension Coverage and Income Across Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Deschacht, Nick

    (KU Leuven)

  • Guillemyn, Inés

    (University of Antwerp)

  • Vujic, Suncica

    (University of Antwerp)

Abstract

Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement (SHARE), this paper examines occupational pension income and coverage gaps between men and women. The focus is on a group of countries with comparable occupational pension regulations: Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The results show that after accounting for observable characteristics, over half of the gender gap in occupational pension coverage is explained, largely driven by women’s shorter labour market participation, greater part-time work, and lower wages. Factors driving this gap remain constant across birth cohorts. Conditional on receiving an occupational pension, women receive nearly 40 percent less occupational pension income than men, partly due to part-time work and industry of employment. Selection into pension receipt has only a limited impact on the gender pension gap. While pension coverage gap decomposition shows little variation across countries, this is not the case for the gender pension gap, notably with cross-country differences in part-time work.

Suggested Citation

  • Deschacht, Nick & Guillemyn, Inés & Vujic, Suncica, 2025. "Exposing the Gap: Gender Inequality in Occupational Pension Coverage and Income Across Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 18163, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18163
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J32 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Nonwage Labor Costs and Benefits; Retirement Plans; Private Pensions

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