What Drives the Gender Gap? An Analysis Using Sexual Orientation

Josef Montag

Kyklos, 2015, vol. 68, issue 4, 577-608

Abstract: type="main">

Gender differences in productivity, if any, that are unobserved to researchers may produce an omitted variable bias in gender gap studies. Finding a subpopulation with less acute differences in unobserved characteristics would allow this concern to be addressed. This paper shows that gays and lesbians are one such interesting group—for the intra-household division of labor and its effects on market productivity cannot be sex-determined in this subpopulation. Indeed, there are substantial intra-household variations in labor market outcomes and other characteristics; the patterns and magnitudes are similar to different-sex households. Simultaneously, the gender wage gap between gays and lesbians is much smaller than in the heterosexual population; in specifications that control for geographic location it is near zero. These findings suggest that the intra-household division of labor is an important factor driving gender differences in labor market outcomes. Such an interpretation is consistent with recent studies that control for productivity.

Date: 2015
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Working Paper: What Drives the Gender Gap? An Analysis Using Sexual Orientation (2014)
Working Paper: What Drives the Gender Gap? An Analysis Using Sexual Orientation (2014)
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