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Work from home and the racial gap in female wages

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  • Kouki, Amairisa

Abstract

This paper studies the racial female wage penalty to remote work in the U.S. Instrumental variable estimates yield wage penalties that reach 66.3 % for black women and 33.9 % for white women when hours worked at home increase to 5 per week. Promotion bias, task reassignment and lack of productive social interaction are the most likely mechanisms for the wage losses. The estimates provide rare evidence on the costs of physical distancing due to work from home, particularly for women of different races managing the needs of their sick children.

Suggested Citation

  • Kouki, Amairisa, 2024. "Work from home and the racial gap in female wages," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:170:y:2024:i:c:s0014292124001934
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2024.104864
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Female wages; Female labor supply; Race; Work from home; Telecommuting; Fertility; Child health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C26 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other

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