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Gender Wage Differentials in the Portuguese Labor Market

Author

Listed:
  • Clementina Santos

    (CETE, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Porto)

  • Pilar González

    (CETE, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Porto)

Abstract

We use data from staff logs (Quadros de Pessoal) to discuss different procedures to decompose gender wage differential and examine the reasons underlying the evolution of the gender wage gap for the period 1985-1997 in the Portuguese labor market. Our results show that, for the first period, the increase of changes in the wage gap is mostly due to the increase in wage discrimination by means of the males´ wage advantage and of the females´ wage disadvantage. Growing inequality within gender groups, namely the rapid increase in educational attainment of women, and their probable overqualification in many jobs, may explain these results. Furthermore, the process of integration in the European Community responsible for deep changes in the economy, has also to be taken into account. The impact of the above facts was more moderate in the period 1991-1997, explaining the decrease of changes in the gender wage gap and the lower dispersion of the different components contribution to the relative wage gap.

Suggested Citation

  • Clementina Santos & Pilar González, 2003. "Gender Wage Differentials in the Portuguese Labor Market," CEF.UP Working Papers 0303, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto.
    • Handle: RePEc:por:cetedp:0303
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Oaxaca, Ronald L. & Ransom, Michael R., 1994. "On discrimination and the decomposition of wage differentials," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 5-21, March.
    7. Peter Dolton & Donal O'Neill & Olive Sweetman, 1996. "Gender Differences in the Changing Labor Market: The Role of Legislation and Inequality in Changing the Wage Gap for Qualified Workers in the United Kingdom," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 31(3), pages 549-565.
    8. T.D. Stanley & Stephen B. Jarrell, 1998. "Gender Wage Discrimination Bias? A Meta-Regression Analysis," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 33(4), pages 947-973.
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    Cited by:

    1. Raquel Vale Mendes, 2009. "Gender wage differentials and occupational distribution," Notas Económicas, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, issue 29, pages 26-40, June.
    2. Raquel Vale Mendes, 2004. "Decomposition of gender wage differentials among Portuguese top management jobs," ERSA conference papers ersa04p127, European Regional Science Association.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • C50 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - General

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