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The male-female wage gap in France - differences across the wage distribution

Author

Listed:
  • Robert Breunig

    (Australian National University)

  • Sandrine Rospabe

    (Université de Rennes I, France)

Abstract

We use a semi-parametric method to decompose the difference in male and female wage densities into two parts--one explained by characteristics and one which is attributable to differences in returns to characteristics. We demonstrate that one learns substantially more about the gender wage gap in France through this analysis than through standard parametric techniques. In particular, we find that there are no unexplained differences in male and female earnings distributions in the bottom fifth of the data. Occupation and part-time status are the most important determinants of the wage gap for all workers. In the semi-parametric estimates we find that education plays no role in the wage gap once we account for occupation and part-time status. JEL Codes: J16 J31 J7

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Breunig & Sandrine Rospabe, 2013. "The male-female wage gap in France - differences across the wage distribution," Australian Journal of Labour Economics (AJLE), Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC), Curtin Business School, vol. 16(1), pages 155-199.
    • Handle: RePEc:ozl:journl:v:16:y:2013:i:1:p:155-199
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J7 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination

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