The US Gender Pay Gap in the 1990s: Slowing Convergence

Francine Blau and Lawrence Kahn

No 10853, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We use data from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) to study the slowdown in the convergence of female and male wages in the 1990s compared to the 1980s. We found that changes in human capital did not contribute to the trends, since women improved their relative human capital to a comparable extent in the 1980s and the 1990s. Occupational upgrading of women and deunionization explained a portion of the slower 1990s convergence since the positive effect of these factors on women's relative wage gains was larger in the 1980s. However, the largest factor accounting for the slowing of wage convergence was the trend in the "unexplained gap," which was sufficient to more than fully account for the slowdown in wage convergence in the 1990s. Factors that may have contributed to the slower narrowing of the unexplained gender pay gap include changes in labor force selectivity, changes in gender differences in unmeasured characteristics and labor market discrimination, and changes in the favorableness of supply and demand shifts. We find some evidence consistent with each of these factors suggesting that each may have played a role in explaining the observed trends.

JEL-codes: J16 J3 J7 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ltv
Note: LS
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (35)

Published as Francine D. Blau & Lawrence M. Kahn, 2006. "The U.S. gender pay gap in the 1990s: slowing convergence," Industrial and Labor Relations Review, ILR Review, ILR School, Cornell University, vol. 60(1), pages 45-66, October.

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Journal Article: The U.S. Gender Pay Gap in the 1990S: Slowing Convergence (2006)
Working Paper: The U.S. Gender Pay Gap in the 1990s: Slowing Convergence (2006)
Working Paper: The US Gender Pay Gap in the 1990s: Slowing Convergence (2006)
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