Work

Gender Gaps and the Rise of the Service Economy

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: This paper investigates the role of the rise in services in the narrowing of gender gaps in hours and wages in recent decades. We highlight the between-industry component of differential gender trends for the United States and propose a model economy with goods, services, and home production, in which women have a comparative advantage in producing services. The rise of services, driven by structural transformation and marketization of home production, raises women's relative wages and market hours. Quantitatively, the model accounts for an important share of the observed trends in women's hours and relative wages. (JEL J16, J21, J22, J24, J31, L80)

Source: American Economic Journal Macroeconomics

DOI: 10.1257/mac.20150253

Authors: L. Rachel Ngai, Barbara Petrongolo

Institutions: Centre for Economic Policy Research, London School of Economics and Political Science, Queen Mary University of London

Language: English

Topic: Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics

Subfield: Gender Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Gender equality, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Economic and Social Research Council