Parametric Vs. Semi-Parametric Estimation of the Male-Female Wage Gap: An Application to France

41 Pages Posted: 14 Nov 2005

See all articles by Robert V. Breunig

Robert V. Breunig

Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy; Tax and Transfer Policy Institute (Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Sandrine Rospabe

University of Rennes

Abstract

We use a semi-parametric method to decompose the difference in male and female wage densities into two parts - one explained by characteristics and one which is attributable to differences in returns to characteristics. We learn substantially more about the gender wage gap in France through this analysis that we do through parametric techniques which we also employ for comparative purposes. In particular, we find that there are no unexplained differences in male and female earnings distributions in the bottom fifth of the data. Occupation and part-time status are the most important determinants of the wage gap for all workers. In the semi-parametric estimates we find that education plays no role in the wage gap once we account for occupation and part-time status.

Keywords: Gender pay gap, sticky floors, glass ceilings, semi-parametric estimation

JEL Classification: J16, J31, J7

Suggested Citation

Breunig, Robert V. and Rospabe, Sandrine, Parametric Vs. Semi-Parametric Estimation of the Male-Female Wage Gap: An Application to France. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=844564 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.844564

Robert V. Breunig

Australian National University (ANU) - Crawford School of Public Policy ( email )

7 Liversidge Street
Lennox Crossing
Canberra, ACT 0200
Australia
61261252148 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://crawford.anu.edu.au/crawford_people/content/staff/rbreunig.php

Tax and Transfer Policy Institute (Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU) ( email )

Canberra
Australia

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Sandrine Rospabe (Contact Author)

University of Rennes ( email )

3 Allee Bobiere
Rennes, 35000
France

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