Summary
In this study an attempt was made to find out whether the female-male earnings differentials in the six founder countries of the EEC were caused by the differences in the work characteristics of the two groups or by a systematic bias against women. In cases where discrimination against women appeared to exist an estimate was made of its degree. It was found that in all countries considered, with the exception of the Netherlands, women had lower average earnings even after standardizing for their different work characteristics. In these countries a substantial part of the female-male earnings differential could not be explained by the differences in the work characteristics of women and could be attributed to other factors, among which sexual prejudice seemed the most likely.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Addison, J.T., ‘Gleichberechtingung — The German Experience,’ in: Barrie O. Pettman (ed.),Equal Pay for Women, Bradford, England, 1975, pp. 99–128.
Arrow, K.J., ‘Models of Job Discrimination,’ in A.H. Pascal (ed.),Racial Discrimination in Economic Life, Lexington, Mass, 1972, pp. 83–102.
Arrow, K.J., ‘Some Mathematical Models of Race Discrimination in the Labor Market,’ in: A.H. Pascal (ed.),Racial Discimination in Economic Life, Lexington, Mass., 1972, 187–204.
Arrow, K.J., ‘The Theory of Discrimination,” in: Orley Ashenfelter and A. Ress (eds.),Discrimination in Labor Markets, Princeton, N.J., 1973, pp. 3–33.
Aigner, D.J. and G.C. Gain, ‘Statistical Theories of Discrimination in Labor Markets,”Industrial and Labor Relations Review, XXX (1977), pp. 175–187.
Barrett, N.S. and R.D. Morgenstern, ‘Why Do Blacks and Women Have High Unemployment Rates?,’Journal of Human Resources, IX (1974), pp. 452–464.
Becker, Gary,The Economics of Discrimination, 2nd Ed. Chicago, 1971, pp. 13–100.
Blinder, A.S., ‘Wage Discrimination: Reduced Form and Structural Estimates,’Journal of Human Resources, VIII (1973), pp 436–455.
Buckley, J., ‘Pay Differerences Between Men and Women in the Same Job,’Monthly Labor Review, XCIV (1971), pp. 36–40.
Corazzini, A.J., ‘Equality of Employment Opportunity in the Federal White-Collar Civil Service,’Journal of Human Resources, VII (1972), pp. 424–445.
Ferber, M.A. and H.M. Lowry, ‘The Sex Differential in Earnings: A Reappraisal,”Industrial and Labor Relations Review, XXIX (1976), pp. 377–387.
Fuchs, V.R., ‘Differences in Hourly Earnings Between Men and Women,’Monthly Labor Review, XCIV (1971), pp. 9–15.
Greenhalgh, Christine, ‘Male-Female Differentials in Great Britain: Is Marriage an Equal Opportunity?,’Economic Journal, XCIV (1980), pp. 751–775.
Gronau, Reuben, ‘Wage Comparisons — A Selectivity Bias,’Journal of Political Economy, LXXXII (1974), pp. 1119–1143.
Gunderson, M., ‘Male-Female Differentials and the Impact of Equal Pay Legislation,’Review of Economics and Statistics, LVII (1975), pp. 462–470.
Gunderson, M., ‘The Influence of the Status and Sex Composition of Occupations on the Male-Female Earnings Gap,’Industrial and Labor Relations Review, XXXI (1978), pp. 217–226.
Leijon, A.G., ‘Sexual Equality in the Labor Markets: Some Experiences and Views of the Nordic Countries,”International Labour Review, CXII (1975), pp. 109–123.
Malkiel, B.G. and J.A. Malkiel, ‘Male-Female Pay Differential in Professional Employment,’American Economic Review, LXIII (1973), pp. 693–703.
McNulty, D., ‘Differences in Pay Between Men and Women Workers,’Monthly Labor Review, XC (1967), pp. 40–43.
Mincer, Jacob and S. Polachek, ‘Family Investments in Human Capital: Earnings of Women,’Journal of Political Economy, LXXXII (1974), pp. S76-S108.
Oaxaca, R., ‘Male-Female Wage Differentials in Urban Labor Markets,’International Labour Review, XIV (1973), pp. 693–709.
Phelps, E., ‘The Statistical Theory of Racism and Sexism,’American Economic Review, LXII (1972), pp. 659–661.
Sanborn, H., ‘Pay Differences Between Men and Women,’Industrial and Labor Relations Review, XVII (1964), pp. 534–550.
Sandell, S.H., ‘Is the Unemployment Rakte of Women Too Low? A Direct Test of the Economic Theory of Job Search,’Review of Economics and Statistics, LXII (1980), pp. 634–638.
Stiglitz, J.E., ‘Approches to the Economics of Discrimination,’American Economic Review, Papers and Proceedings, LXIII (1973), pp. 287–296.
Stiglitz, J.E., ‘Theories of Discrimination and Economic Policy,’ in: G.M. Von Furstenberg, A. Horowitz and B. Harrison (eds.),Patterns of Racial Discrimination (Vol. II), Employment and Income, Lexington, Mass., 1974, pp. 5–26.
Sullerot, E., ‘Equality of Renumeration for Men and Women in the Member States of the EEC,’International Labour Review, CXII (1975), pp. 87–108.
Suter, L.E. and H.P. Miller, ‘Income Differences between Men and Career Women,’American Journal of Sociology, LXXVIII (1973), pp. 962–974.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kottis, A.P. Female-male earnings differentials in the founder countries of the european economic community: An econometric investigation. De Economist 132, 204–223 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02380299
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02380299