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Sex Discrimination in the Promotion Process

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  • Craig A. Olson
  • Brian E. Becker

Abstract

Previous research has suggested that intra-occupational earnings differences are the principal source of the long-standing earnings gap between men and women. Following that line of research, this study examines the extent of gender differences in the incidence of and returns to promotions. Drawing on the Quality of Employment Panel, the authors compare the earnings and promotion experience of men and women over the period 1973–1977. After controlling for unmeasured differences in job level and constant individual ability in a fixed-effect model, they conclude that the returns to promotion are comparable for men and women. Further analysis indicates, however, that women are held to higher promotion standards than men and therefore receive fewer promotions than men with equal measured abilities. Although the female/male wage ratio in this sample increased by nearly 6 percent over four years, the increase could have been as much as 9.2 percent if women and men had been held to the same promotion standards.

Suggested Citation

  • Craig A. Olson & Brian E. Becker, 1983. "Sex Discrimination in the Promotion Process," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 36(4), pages 624-641, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ilrrev:v:36:y:1983:i:4:p:624-641
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    Cited by:

    1. Winter-Ebmer, Rudolf & Zweimuller, Josef, 1997. "Unequal Assignment and Unequal Promotion in Job Ladders," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(1), pages 43-71, January.
    2. Quinn A. W. Keefer, 2022. "Sex Differences in High-Level Managerial Jobs: Evidence From Professional Basketball," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 23(3), pages 301-328, April.
    3. John T. Addison & Orgul Demet Ozturk & Si Wang, 2014. "The Role of Gender in Promotion and Pay over a Career," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 8(3), pages 280-317.
    4. Pema, Elda & Mehay, Stephen, 2010. "The role of job assignment and human capital endowments in explaining gender differences in job performance and promotion," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(6), pages 998-1009, December.
    5. Cassidy, Hugh & DeVaro, Jed & Kauhanen, Antti, 2016. "Promotion signaling, gender, and turnover: New theory and evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 126(PA), pages 140-166.
    6. C. Sofia Machado & Miguel Portela, 2011. "Age and opportunities for promotion," NIPE Working Papers 03/2011, NIPE - Universidade do Minho.
    7. Paul M. Guest, 2016. "Executive Mobility and Minority Status," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), pages 604-631, October.
    8. Havet, Nathalie, 2004. "Écarts salariaux et disparités professionnelles entre sexes : développements théoriques et validité empirique," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 80(1), pages 5-39, Mars.
    9. Francine D. Blau & Jed DeVaro, 2006. "New Evidence on Gender Differences in Promotion Rates: An Empirical Analysis of a Sample of New Hires," Working Papers 891, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    10. Lena E. Hensvik, 2014. "Manager Impartiality: Worker-Firm Matching and the Gender Wage Gap," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 67(2), pages 395-421, April.
    11. Benjamin Artz & Sarinda Taengnoi, 2019. "The Gender Gap in Raise Magnitudes of Hourly and Salary Workers," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 84-105, March.
    12. Vasilios D. Kosteas, 2011. "Job Satisfaction and Promotions," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(1), pages 174-194, January.
    13. Lin Xiu & Morley Gunderson, 2013. "Performance Pay in China: Gender Aspects," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(1), pages 124-147, March.
    14. Alok Kumar, 2010. "Self‐Selection and the Forecasting Abilities of Female Equity Analysts," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 393-435, May.

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