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The Gender Pay Gap in Informal Employment in Poland

Author

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  • Anna Ruzik
  • Magdalena Rokicka

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of the gender pay gap in the formal and informal labour markets in Poland. The authors verify the hypothesis of the existence of a gender pay gap in informal work and compare this gap with the one observed in the formal (registered) labour market. Various analyses of available data show that size and characteristics of gender pay gap differ depending on the level of earnings. The inequality of earnings among unregistered women and men is more pronounced at the bottom tail of the earnings distribution. In the case of formal employees, inequality at the top of the distribution tends to be larger, confirming the existence of a ‘glass ceiling’. The decomposition of the gender pay gap for selected quintiles indicates that it would be even higher if women had men’s characteristics. A possible explanation of the results is the lack of minimum wage regulations in the informal market and the greater flexibility in agreement on wages in the higher quantiles.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Ruzik & Magdalena Rokicka, 2010. "The Gender Pay Gap in Informal Employment in Poland," CASE Network Studies and Analyses 406, CASE-Center for Social and Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:sec:cnstan:0406
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Joanna Landmesser, 2016. "Decomposition of differences In income distributions Using quantile regression," Statistics in Transition new series, Główny Urząd Statystyczny (Polska), vol. 17(2), pages 331-348, June.
    2. Aleksandra Majchrowska & Paweł Strawiński, 2016. "Regional Differences in Gender Wage Gaps in Poland: New Estimates Based on Harmonized Data for Wages," Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, Central European Journal of Economic Modelling and Econometrics, vol. 8(2), pages 115-141, June.
    3. Dominika Marta Urbańczyk & Joanna Małgorzata Landmesser, 2018. "The Comparison Of Income Distributions For Women And Men In Poland Using Semiparametric Reweighting Approach," Statistics in Transition New Series, Polish Statistical Association, vol. 19(4), pages 711-723, December.
    4. Mariusz Kaszubowski & Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz, 2014. "Salary and reservation wage gender gaps in Polish academia," GUT FME Working Paper Series A 19, Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology.
    5. Joanna Małgorzata Landmesser, 2016. "Decomposition Of Differences In Income Distributions Using Quantile Regression," Statistics in Transition New Series, Polish Statistical Association, vol. 17(2), pages 331-348, June.
    6. Joanna Małgorzata Landmesser, 2019. "Decomposition Of Gender Wage Gap In Poland Using Counterfactual Distribution With Sample Selection," Statistics in Transition New Series, Polish Statistical Association, vol. 20(3), pages 171-186, September.
    7. Aleksandra Parteka & Sabina Szymczak & Joanna Wolszczak-Derlacz, 2017. "Gender Wage Gap Convergence and Skills Heterogeneity in Poland (2005–2014) – Quantile Regression Analysis Based on Microdata from EU SILC," Collegium of Economic Analysis Annals, Warsaw School of Economics, Collegium of Economic Analysis, issue 47, pages 129-142.
    8. Aleksandra Majchrowska & Paweł Strawiński & Karolina Konopczak & Agnieszka Skierska, 2014. "Why are women paid less than men? An investigation into gender wage gap in Poland," Working Papers 2014-31, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
    9. Aleksandra Majchrowska & Pawel Strawinski & Karolina Konopczak & Agnieszka Skierska, 2015. "Gender wage gap by occupational groups in Poland," Lodz Economics Working Papers 3/2015, University of Lodz, Faculty of Economics and Sociology.
    10. Landmesser Joanna Małgorzata, 2018. "The Use of Hazard Models for the Analysis of Income Inequalities in Poland," Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia, Sciendo, vol. 18(1), pages 144-156, June.
    11. Landmesser Joanna Małgorzata, 2020. "Differences in the Income Distribution of Households Run by Men and Women by Voivodeships," Folia Oeconomica Stetinensia, Sciendo, vol. 20(1), pages 248-265, June.
    12. Anna Chojecka & Joanna Tyrowicz, 2017. "Zmienne pominięte a luka płacowa kobiet - wnioski z analizy uwzględniającej wydajność," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 2, pages 29-43.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    gender pay gap; informal employment; quantile regression;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing

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