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Social norms and gender discrimination in the labor market: An agent-based exercise

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  • Quintero Rojas, Coralia Azucena
  • Viianto, Lari Artur

Abstract

The incorporation of women into the labor market remains a challenge for most countries; likewise, gender gaps are observed in indicators such as employment, unemployment and participation. In this paper we study the role of social norms in the labor market performance per gender; that is, how gender gaps arise from conservative gender roles. To this end, we construct an agent-based model where discrimination appears when information on job vacancies is transmitted within a social network with preference to a given gender. Networks are defined by size, closeness and links per family. Our results show that: Social networks enhance the chance of getting a job. Discrimination deepens gender gaps. Discrimination does not favor the employment situation of households, since the share of non-income households (both members unemployed) is not reduced. Rather, discrimination reduces the number of two-income households in favor of the single-income households where only the man is employed.

Suggested Citation

  • Quintero Rojas, Coralia Azucena & Viianto, Lari Artur, 2019. "Social norms and gender discrimination in the labor market: An agent-based exercise," MPRA Paper 96752, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:96752
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques
    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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