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Gender Gaps in the Urban Wage Premium

Author

Listed:
  • Kenza Elass
  • Cecilia García-Peñalosa
  • Christian Schluter
  • Cecilia Garcia-Peñalosa

Abstract

We examine the economic geography of gender wage gaps to understand the role that location plays in gender earning differences. Using panelised administrative data for the universe of French workers, our findings indicate that women benefit relatively more from density than men, with an urban wage premium (return to urban density) 48% higher than for men. We identify a number of factors that explain this gap, with a large share being explained by the structure of the local labour market, notably, the extent of occupational segregation. Another important factor is commuting patterns, while childcare availability plays only a moderate role.

Suggested Citation

  • Kenza Elass & Cecilia García-Peñalosa & Christian Schluter & Cecilia Garcia-Peñalosa, 2024. "Gender Gaps in the Urban Wage Premium," CESifo Working Paper Series 11374, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11374
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender wage gap; agglomeration economies; urban wage premium;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • R10 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - General
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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