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Research performance and age explain less than half of the gender pay gap in New Zealand universities

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  • Ann Brower
  • Alex James

Abstract

We use a globally unique dataset that scores every individual academic’s holistic research performance in New Zealand to test several common explanations for the gender pay gap in universities. We find a man’s odds of being ranked professor or associate professor are more than double a woman’s with similar recent research score, age, field, and university. We observe a lifetime gender pay gap of ~NZ$400,000, of which research score and age explain less than half. Our ability to examine the full spectrum of research performance allows us to reject the ‘male variability hypothesis’ theory that the preponderance of men amongst the ‘superstars’ explains the lifetime performance pay gap observed. Indeed women whose research career trajectories resemble men’s still get paid less than men. From 2003–12, women at many ranks improved their research scores by more than men, but moved up the academic ranks more slowly. We offer some possible explanations for our findings, and show that the gender gap in universities will never disappear in most academic fields if current hiring practices persist.

Suggested Citation

  • Ann Brower & Alex James, 2020. "Research performance and age explain less than half of the gender pay gap in New Zealand universities," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0226392
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226392
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    Cited by:

    1. Pat O’Connor & Gemma Irvine, 2020. "Multi-Level State Interventions and Gender Equality in Higher Education Institutions: The Irish Case," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-21, December.
    2. Cory Koedel & Trang Pham, 2023. "The Narrowing Gender Wage Gap Among Faculty at Public Universities in the U.S," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.
    3. Magdalena Formanowicz & Marta Witkowska & Weronika Hryniszak & Zuzanna Jakubik & Aleksandra Cisłak, 2023. "Gender bias in special issues: evidence from a bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(4), pages 2283-2299, April.
    4. Ann Brower & Alex James, 2023. "Sticky Floors, Double-Binds, and Double Whammies: Adjusting for Research Performance Reveals Universities’ Gender Pay Gap is Not Disappearing," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, August.
    5. Margaret Hodgins & Patricia Mannix-McNamara, 2021. "The Neoliberal University in Ireland: Institutional Bullying by Another Name?," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Gabrielė Stupurienė & Tatjana Jevsikova & Anita Juškevičienė, 2022. "Solving Ecological Problems through Physical Computing to Ensure Gender Balance in STEM Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.

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