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The Gender Wage Gap across Life: Effects of Genetic Predisposition Towards Higher Educational Attainment

Author

Listed:
  • Bryson, Alex

    (University College London)

  • Morris, Tim

    (University College London)

  • Bann, David

    (University College London)

  • Wilkinson, David

    (University College London)

Abstract

Using two polygenic scores (PGS) for educational attainment in a biomedical study of all those born in a single week in Great Britain in 1958 we show that the genetic predisposition for educational attainment is associated with labour market participation and wages over the life- course for men and women. Those with a higher PGS spend more time in employment and full-time employment and, when in employment, earn higher hourly wages. The employment associations are more pronounced for women than for men. Conditional on employment, the PGS wage associations are sizeable, persistent and similar for men and women between ages 33 and 55. A one standard deviation increase in the PGS is associated with a 6-10 log point increase in hourly earnings. However, whereas a 1 standard deviation increase in the PGS at age 23 raises women's earnings by around 5 log points, it is not statistically significant among men. These associations are robust to non-random selection into employment and to controls for parental education. Our results suggest that genetic endowments of a cohort born a half century ago continued to play a significant role in their fortunes in the labor market of the 21st Century.

Suggested Citation

  • Bryson, Alex & Morris, Tim & Bann, David & Wilkinson, David, 2024. "The Gender Wage Gap across Life: Effects of Genetic Predisposition Towards Higher Educational Attainment," IZA Discussion Papers 17255, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17255
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender wage gap; employment; educational attainment; polygenic score; National Child Development Study;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • 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
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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