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Does the Glass Ceiling Exist?: A Cross-National Perspective on Gender Income Mobility

Author

Listed:
  • Ira N. Gang

    (Rutgers University)

  • John Landon-Lane

    (Rutgers University)

  • Myeong-Su Yun

    (Tulane University)

Abstract

We compare male and female upward labor income mobility in Germany and the United States using the GSOEP-PSID Cross-National Equivalent File. Our main interest is to test whether a glass ceiling exists for women. Conventional thinking about the glass ceiling highlights the belief that the playing field is level for women and men in the labor market up to a certain point, after which there is an effective limit on advancement for women. We examine the glass ceiling hypothesis by looking at the income dynamics -- the movement of women and men through the distribution of income over time. We find that there is considerable evidence in favor of a glass ceiling both in Germany and the United States with men having approximately a 30% premium in their upward income mobility compared to women in the upper income classes. We also find significant, but smaller, differences at middle and low income levels for both countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Ira N. Gang & John Landon-Lane & Myeong-Su Yun, 2003. "Does the Glass Ceiling Exist?: A Cross-National Perspective on Gender Income Mobility," Departmental Working Papers 200301, Rutgers University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:rut:rutres:200301
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    Cited by:

    1. Gang, Ira N. & Landon-Lane, John & Yun, Myeong-Su, 2002. "Gender Differences in German Upward Income Mobility," IZA Discussion Papers 580, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Marianne A. Ferber & Elke Holst & Wenzel Matiaske, 2006. "Introduction: The Changing Status of Women," management revue. Socio-economic Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 17(2), pages 99-103.
    3. NAVARRO-GÓMEZ, María Lucía & RUEDA-NARVÁEZ, Mario F., 2014. "Segregación Laboral Por Género En España: Efectos Sobre Los Salarios Y La Movilidad Salarial," Regional and Sectoral Economic Studies, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 14(3), pages 131-154.
    4. Mario Federico Rueda Narváez & María Lucía Navarro Gómez, 2014. "Una panorámica de género sobre la segregación laboral en España," Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación volume 9, in: Adela García Aracil & Isabel Neira Gómez (ed.), Investigaciones de Economía de la Educación 9, edition 1, volume 9, chapter 53, pages 999-1015, Asociación de Economía de la Educación.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    glass ceiling; mobility; Markov chain; income distribution dynamics; gender discrimination;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D3 - Microeconomics - - Distribution

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