Questions and Answers
How has women's employment ratio changed since the 1940s to the present?
Women's employment ratio has changed from about 35% in the 1940s to nearly 70.6% as of February 2021. It plateaued starting in the 1980s.
How does the women's employment ratio compare to men's as of February 2021?
Women: 70.6%, Men: 76.5%
Has the employment ratio four years after each business cycle peak grown the most for men or for women?
Women, significantly.
How has labor market behavior and human capital investments (education) among women and men converged over time?
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What does Goldin say about the role played by continuous labor market attachment and long hours in the rewards to certain occupations?
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Based on Figures 1a and 1b, how has the earnings gap between men and women changed when comparing older to younger birth years?
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Does Goldin note that the majority of the current earnings gap comes from within or between occupation differences?
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Which occupation is linear and which is nonlinear in pay regarding the effects of longer hours?
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What does Goldin suggest is the cause of the remaining pay gap between men and women?
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Study Notes
Women's Employment Ratio
- Women's employment ratio rose from approximately 35% in the 1940s to nearly 70.6% as of February 2021.
- Employment ratio plateaued around the 1980s.
Comparison of Employment Ratios
- Women's employment ratio: 70.6% (Feb. 2021).
- Men's employment ratio: 76.5% (Feb. 2021).
Business Cycle Employment Growth
- Employment ratio growth post-business cycle peaks has been significantly higher for women compared to men.
Labor Market and Education Investments
- Women’s educational attainment increased more than men's, with a shift towards investment-focused courses in higher education.
Continuous Labor Market Attachment and Earnings
- Gender earnings gaps are influenced by continuous labor market attachment and long hours, particularly in competitive occupations.
- Earnings for some positions depend heavily on hours worked, impacting wage differences between genders.
Earnings Gap by Age and Birth Year
- The unadjusted gender pay gap narrows with each successive birth cohort, indicating greater equality among younger generations.
- Earnings similarity occurs later in life, with gaps widening again approaching retirement age.
Within vs. Between Occupation Earnings Gap
- Majority of current earnings gap arises from within-occupation differences rather than between-occupation distributions, highlighting the importance of addressing specific occupational earnings.
Lawyer vs. Pharmacist Earnings
- Lawyers experience a nonlinear pay structure where continuous long hours lead to higher pay, contrasting with pharmacists, who face a linear pay structure with less penalty for decreased work hours.
Remaining Pay Gap Causes
- Remaining gender pay gap attributed to the nonlinear relationship between hours worked and earnings, with continuous work hours highly valued in many fields. Flexibility often incurs a significant earnings penalty.
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Description
Explore the significant changes in women's employment ratios from the 1940s to today with this flashcard set. Understand the comparisons between women's and men's employment trends, identifying key milestones and plateau points in the data. Dive into the insights provided by Claudia Goldin's work on gender convergence.
