Zitatform

Barth, Erling, Liza Reisel & Kjersti Misje Østbakken (2024): The Equality Hurdle: Resolving the Welfare State Paradox. In: Work, Employment and Society, Jg. 38, H. 3, S. 766-786. DOI:10.1177/09500170231155293

Abstract

"This article revisits a central tenet of the welfare state paradox, also known as the inclusion-equality trade-off. Using large-scale survey data for 31 European countries and the United States, collected over a recent 15-year period, the article re-investigates the relationship between female labour force participation and gender segregation. Emphasising the transitional role played by the monetisation of domestic tasks, the study identifies a ‘gender equality hurdle’ that countries with the highest levels of female labour force participation have already passed. The results show that occupational gender segregation is currently lower in countries with high female labour force participation, regardless of public sector size. However, the findings also indicate that high relative levels of public spending on health, education and care are particularly conducive to desegregation. Hence, rather than being paradoxical, more equality in participation begets more equality in the labour market, as well as in gendered tasks in society overall." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Han, Sinn Won, Ohjae Gowen & Mary C. Brinton (2024): When mothers do it all: gender-role norms, women's employment, and fertility intentions in post-industrial societies. In: European Sociological Review, Jg. 40, H. 2, S. 309-325. DOI:10.1093/esr/jcad036

Abstract

"Post-industrial countries with high rates of female labour force participation have generally had low fertility rates, but recent studies demonstrate that this is no longer the case. This has generated increased attention to how greater gender equality in the private sphere of the household may contribute to a positive relationship between women’s employment rates and fertility. Building on recent scholarship demonstrating the multidimensionality of gender-role attitudes, we argue that conversely, the prevalence of a gender-role ideology that supports women’s employment but places greater priority on their role as caregivers may depress the higher-order fertility intentions of working mothers. Using data from 25 European countries, we find that this type of gender-role ideology (egalitarian familism) moderates the relationship between mothers’ full-time employment and their intention to have a second child. This holds even after accounting for key features of the policy environment that are likely to mitigate work–family conflict. The analysis suggests that conflicting normative expectations for women’s work and family roles tend to dampen working mothers’ second-order fertility intentions, independent of work–family reconciliation policies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Zitatform

Leitner, Sandra M. (2024): Working from Home and Mental Well-being in the EU at Different Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Gendered Look at Key Mediators. (WIIW working paper 244), Wien, 44 S.

Abstract

"This paper analyses the relationship between working from home (WFH) and mental well-being at different stages during the first two critical years of the COVID-19 pandemic, when governments repeatedly imposed lockdowns and enacted WFH mandates to contain the spread of the virus. Using data from a representative survey conducted at four different time periods in 2020 (first lockdown, subsequent gradual reopening), 2021 (further lockdown) and 2022 (restrictions widely lifted) in the 27 EU member states, it examines the potentially changing role of several mediators over time, such as work-family conflict, family-work conflict, stability, resilience, isolation, the importance of different support networks, workload, physical risk of contracting COVID-19 at work, and housing conditions. For the first lockdown, it also differentiates by previous WFH experience, in terms of WFH novices and experienced WFH workers. It differentiates by gender, in order to take the potential gendered nature and effect of COVID-19 measures into account. The results show that while there was no direct relationship between WFH and mental well-being, there are several important mediators whose relevance was specific not only to certain stages of the pandemic, but also to previous experience with WFH and gender. Stability is the only mediator that was relevant over the entire two-year pandemic period. Work-family conflict and family-work conflict were only relevant during the first lockdown, while resilience and isolation mattered especially when most of the EU economies had lifted most of their restrictions. Unlike established WFH workers, WFH novices had an advantage during the first lockdown, benefiting from lower family-work conflict and more helpful networks of family and friends. Moreover, our results differ by gender for females who undertook WFH, important mediators were work-family conflict and family-work conflict. Both were related to adjustments they had to make in work and non-work" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Popova, Daria, Katrin Gasior & Silvia Avram (2024): Outside the box? – Women's individual poverty risk in the EU and the role of labor market characteristics and tax-benefit policies. (ISER working paper series / Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex 2024-02), Colchester, 31 S.

Abstract

"Social policy debates as early as the 1950s have focused on the activation of individuals into employment. This assumes jobs with good work-ing conditions and fair pay; ignores women's reality of part-time work, unpaid care work and the gender pay gap; and has often resulted in the weakening of traditional social protection. We study the individual poverty risk of women under the adult worker paradigm across the EU using the tax-benefit model EUROMOD and EU-SILC data. Comparing the individual poverty risk of working-age women to the benchmark of typical male workers, we highlight heterogeneity driven by women's economic situation and job characteristics and analyze the role of the tax-benefit system in reducing the gap. The analysis shows that only slightly more than one third of women isn't the adult worker model, while this is the case for almost two thirds of men. Inactive and unemployed women are particularly likely to be vulnerable to poverty, but even women with the same characteristics as male reference workers experience a higher poverty risk, highlighting the role of the gender pay gap. Benefits cushion some of the gendered labor market differences but are often not generous enough for unemployed and inactive women or not sufficiently available for self-employed women. Women in atypical employment are furthermore disproportionally affected by taxes and social insurance contributions as they lead to a higher poverty rate, contributing to a larger gap compared to typical male workers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Adriaans, Jule & Matteo Targa (2023): Gender differences in fairness evaluations of own earnings in 28 European countries. In: European Societies, Jg. 25, H. 1, S. 107-131. DOI:10.1080/14616696.2022.2083651

Abstract

"Women tend to evaluate their own pay more favorably than men. Contented women are speculated to not seek higher wages, thus the ‘paradox of the contented female worker’ may contribute to persistent gender pay differences. We extend the literature on gender differences in pay evaluations by investigating fairness evaluations of own earnings and underlying conceptions of fair earnings, providing a closer link to potential subsequent wage demands than previous literature. Using European Social Survey (2018/2019) data, we find no evidence that women evaluate their own earnings more favorably than men. In 15 out of the 28 analyzed countries, women actually report more intense levels of perceived unfairness. Studying fair markups on unfair earnings, i.e. the relative distance between the earnings received and earnings considered fair, we find that women report the same, if not lower, fair markups compared to men in most countries; thus indicating limited potential for perceived unfairness as a driving force to reduce the gender pay gap in Europe." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Adsera, Alícia & Federica Querin (2023): The Gender Wage Gap and Parenthood: Occupational Characteristics Across European Countries. In: European Journal of Population, Jg. 39. DOI:10.1007/s10680-023-09681-4

Abstract

"Different strands of research analyse gender occupational differences and how they relate to differential earnings, especially among parents juggling family demands. We use rich data from PIAAC across a subset of European countries and match occupational characteristics to individuals’ jobs using the O*NET database to analyse, first, whether there are gender differences in the occupational characteristics of jobs, particularly among parents, and second, whether the return to key occupational characteristics varies by gender. Compared to men, women’s jobs generally require more contact with others, less autonomy in decision-making, and less time pressure. In addition, positions held by mothers involve both less leadership expectations and less intensive use of machines than those held by fathers. Further, mothers receive a lower return to both of these occupational characteristics than fathers do. Finally, even though gaps in occupational characteristics such as leadership jointly with the differential sorting of mothers and fathers across sectors explain part of the gender wage gap in Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition models, especially in Continental Europe, a large share remains unexplained particularly in Eastern and Southern European countries." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Berloffa, Gabriella, Eleonora Matteazzi, Alina Şandor & Paola Villa (2023): Mothers' and daughters' employment in Europe. A comparative analysis. In: Socio-economic review, Jg. 21, H. 2, S. 767-793. DOI:10.1093/ser/mwac046

Abstract

"This article analyzes the intergenerational correlation of employment between young women (at about 30 years of age) and their mothers (when their daughters were about 14 years old), using 2011 European Union Survey on Income and Living Conditions data. It examines the extent to which this correlation varies across 19 European countries and is associated with the socioeconomic context at the national level. Having grown up with a working mother is associated with a sizeable increase in the daughters’ employment probability in almost all countries, with greater effect for women with children. For this group, the intergenerational correlation is smaller in countries where the policy context is less favorable to maternal employment. It is crucial to promote gender equality, challenging individuals’ gender stereotypes through education and in society at large, and create conditions that allow young women’s preferences for work to be realized, enhancing policies that favor a balanced sharing of unpaid work." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bonsang, Eric & Joan Costa-Font (2023): The "Demise of the Caregiving Daughter"? Gender Employment Gaps and the Use of Formal and Informal Care in Europe. (IZA discussion paper / Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit 16615), Bonn, 51 S.

Abstract

"We revisit the universality of the "caregiving daughter effect", which holds that daughters tend to provide more care to their older parents than sons. Based on rich European data, we document evidence of such an effect in countries with large gender disparities in employment rates, where having daughters also depresses the demand for formal care. In contrast, we find evidence consistent with the "demise of the caregiving daughter" when exposed to narrower gender gaps, where there is no more daughters' effect on formal care. These results point to a reconsideration of caregiving system design amidst the rise of female employment." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Fırat, Mustafa, Mark Visserm & Gerbert Kraaykamp (2023): Work-Family Trajectories Across Europe. Differences Between Social Groups and Welfare Regimes. (SocArXiv papers), 40 S. DOI:10.31235/osf.io/nghtq

Abstract

"Work and family trajectories develop and interact over the life course in complex ways. However, previous studies drew a fragmented picture of these trajectories and had limited scope. Here, we provide the most comprehensive study of work-family trajectories to date. Using retrospective data from wave 3 and 7 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, we reconstructed work-family trajectories from age 15 to 49 among almost 80,000 individuals born between 1908 and 1967 across 28 countries. We applied multichannel sequence and cluster analysis to identify work-family trajectories and multinomial logistic regression models to uncover their social composition. Our results revealed six common trajectories. The dominant trajectory represents the standard path of continuous full-time employment and having a partner with children. Women, the lower educated and persons from conservative welfare regimes are underrepresented in this trajectory, whereas men, higher educated people and those from social-democratic and Eastern European welfare regimes are overrepresented. Other trajectories denote a deviation from the standard path, integrating a non-standard form of work with standard family formation or vice versa. Women who have a partner and children generally work part-time or do not work at all. When in full-time employment, women are more likely to be divorced. Lower educated persons are less likely to be full-time workers with non-standard families, yet more likely to be non-employed with standard family formation. Younger cohorts are underrepresented in non-employment but overrepresented in part-time employment with a partner and children. Individuals from Southern European regimes are more likely to be non-working partnered parents and those from social-democratic regimes are more likely to be full-time employed separated parents. We also found pronounced gender differences in how educational level, birth cohort and welfare regime areassociated withwork-family trajectories. Our findings largely highlight the socially stratified nature of work-family trajectories in Europe. We conclude by discussing the potential implications for later-life inequalities,and make our code producing the trajectory data publicly available to facilitate future research." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Giuliani, Giovanni Amerigo (2023): The gender dimension of outsiderness in Western Europe: a comparative cross-model analysis. In: The international journal of sociology and social policy, Jg. 43, H. 13/14, S. 62-78. DOI:10.1108/IJSSP-12-2022-0317

Abstract

"Purpose: The article investigates whether and to what extent outsiderness is gendered in Western Europe, both in terms of its spread and degree. It thus explores which male and female post-Fordist social classes are more exposed to the risk of this phenomenon. It also scrutinizes whether such a gendered characterization has varied over time and across clusters of Western European countries. Design/methodology/approach Relying on a comparative analysis of the data provided by the European Social Survey (ESS) dataset and comparing two points in time –the early/mid-2000s and the late 2010s – the work provides both a dichotomous and continuous variable of outsiderness, which measure its spread and degree in the female and male workforces of a pooled set of growth models. Findings The empirical analysis shows that outsiderness is profoundly gendered in Western Europe and thus a feminized social phenomenon. However, the comparative investigation highlights that outsiderness has been genderized in diverse ways across the four growth models. Different patterns of gendered outsiderness can be identified. Originality/value The article provides a comparative and diachronic analysis of outsiderness from a gender lens, putting into a mutual dialogue different literature on labour market, and shows that outsiderness represents a key analytical dimension for assessing gender inequalities." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Emerald Group) ((en))

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Köppl-Turyna, Monika & Nikolaus Graf (2023): Kinderbetreuung und Vereinbarkeit im internationalen Vergleich: Update des EcoAustria Scoreboard-Indikators. (Policy note / EcoAustria - Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung 54), Wien, 21 S.

Abstract

"Die Verfügbarkeit qualitativ hochwertiger, örtlich erreichbarer, zeitlich flexibler Kinderbetreuung stellt eine Grundvoraussetzung der Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Familie dar. Österreich weist eine überdurchschnittliche Erwerbsbeteiligung von Müttern auf, zugleich findet diese Erwerbsbeteiligung sehr häufig in Form von Teilzeitbeschäftigung statt. Teilzeitbeschäftigung stellt wieder mit, eine Ursache für geschlechtsspezifische Ungleichheiten am Arbeitsmarkt dar. Institutionelle Kinderbetreuung kann die Arbeitsmarktteilnahme von Müttern befördern und zu einer Ausweitung der Arbeitszeit führen. Zugleich gehen von Kinderbetreuung positive Effekte auf die Bildungsergebnisse und auf die schulische Integration bildungsbenachteiligter Kinder aus. In Anbetracht der aktuellen Arbeitskräfteknappheit kann eine Ausweitung der Erwerbsintegration von Müttern eine Option darstellen, die Nachfrage nach Arbeitskräften zu decken. Kurzum: Von Kinderbetreuung gehen viele positive, gesellschaftlich und politisch erwünschte Effekte aus. Dennoch: Trotz der in der jüngeren Vergangenheit erzielten Fortschritte sind etwa bei der Betreuung von Kleinkindern unter drei Jahren und im Hinblick auf verlängerte flexible Öffnungszeiten am Tagesrand sowie Schließtage während den Ferien Aufholpotenziale insbesondere in ländlichen Regionen gegeben. [...]" (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Lütolf, Meret & Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen (2023): Do households live the family model they prefer? Household's work patterns across European policy regimes. In: Socio-economic review, Jg. 21, H. 3, S. 1421-1443. DOI:10.1093/ser/mwac023

Abstract

"Studies have investigated the equalizing effect of childcare provision and parental leave schemes on gendered work patterns. However, as the relationship between policies and individual time allocations to paid work is complex and challenging to empirically assess, previous research has clarified single aspects of this complexity. The present study theoretically and empirically combines a household perspective by considering the work behaviors of two partners within one household (i.e. a household's lived family model) with a comparative approach to systematically analyze relationships between specific policy designs and households' paid work patterns in a large sample. The findings imply that extensive childcare policies are systematically related to an egalitarian household organization, mostly among those with small children. This association can be observed across households with varying levels of egalitarian norms. Conversely, the findings suggest that the current design of parental leave policies in the 21 European countries does not allow for a true assessment of the potential of leave schemes to influence the within-household division of labor." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Picatoste, Xose, Anabela Mesquita & Fernando González-Laxe (2023): Gender wage gap, quality of earnings and gender digital divide in the European context. In: Empirica, Jg. 50, H. 2, S. 301-321. DOI:10.1007/s10663-022-09555-8

Abstract

"One of the leading national and international objectives is to achieve more egalitarian societies. Avoiding gender or digital gaps are priorities generally assumed as concerns of governments and international organizations. This paper evaluates the digital gender divide in its three stages: access, use and results, relating it to gender and salary gaps in the context of the European Union. Cluster analysis was conducted to classify the countries according to their gender digital divide. The influence of age and studies level of males and females was revised. Based on the OECD and EUROSTAT data, an empirical analysis was conducted. By comparison of means, the significant variables influencing the gender digital divide were identified, probing that the educational level significantly influences it, especially in what refers to the third stage. Finally, through a regression analysis, it was proved that the influence of the insecurity and the gender wage gap goes beyond the women and affects society." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Scherer, Stefani & Emmanuele Pavolini (2023): Equalizing or not? Public childcare and women's labour market participation. In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 33, H. 4, S. 436-450. DOI:10.1177/09589287231183169

Abstract

"Within the scientific literature and debate on social investment, public childcare provision plays a pivotal role. At the same time, critics have argued that social investment is often unable to reduce social inequalities and, to the contrary, tends to reproduce them (the so-called ‘Matthew effect’). The article focuses on a specific facet of social investment policies: their capacity to support mothers’ employment and its effect on social inequality, by investigating empirically to what extent an expansion of public childcare can help to increase women’s labour market participation and how this eventual support is homogenously distributed among different mothers’ profiles. To give a convincing answer to such a question requires careful attention to methodology, in order to avoid drawing the wrong conclusions. Whereas existing research has predominately focused on cross-national variation and has often been static in nature, the present study assesses the effects of public childcare expansion on women’s labour market participation and employment by examining region-specific within-variation over time of public childcare coverage. The study relies on data from the European Social Survey (2002–2018) that were integrated with an original collection of regional-level information on public childcare. It finds a positive association between increases in public childcare coverage and mothers’ labour market participation. Furthermore, it shows that public childcare helps to fight social inequalities among households with young children. Low-educated mothers are the ones who profit most from an increase in public childcare, and positive employment effects are most pronounced at lower levels of childcare coverage. Therefore, this contribution highlights the importance of public childcare policies as an equalizer in society, especially in contexts in which an intervention is most needed, because expanding childcare fosters mothers’ labour market participation" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Seo, Hyojin (2023): Gendered labour market patterns across Europe: Does family policy mitigate feminization of outsiders? In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 33, H. 1, S. 3-16. DOI:10.1177/09589287221148916

Abstract

"Studies have shown positive impact of family policies on women’s labour market participation over the last decades. How, then, does it influence the types of jobs women obtain when they (re-)enter the labour market? Using multi-level modelling, this study examines how different work–family balance policies (that is, leave policies, childcare services) shape gendered labour market patterns and whether or not it mitigates women’s overrepresentation among the labour market Outsiders across Europe. I use European Working Conditions Survey 2015 data and cover 30 European countries. Specifically focusing on women’s relative likelihood of being labour market Outsiders compared to men, I find that certain policies help women avoid being Outsiders, while the others may reinforce the existing gender inequality in the labour market. This resonates with the welfare state paradox and family policy trade-off literature that the policies that do not disrupt the gender norms may in turn maintain or enhance them." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Zacchia, Giulia & Izaskun Zuazu (2023): The Wage Effect of Workplace Sexual Harassment: Evidence for Women in Europe. (Working papers / Institute for New Economic Thinking 205),: Institute for New Economic Thinking 27 S. DOI:10.36687/inetwp205

Abstract

"This article contributes to the literature on wage discrimination by examining the consequences of sexual harassment in the workplace on wages for women in Europe. We model the empirical relationship between sexual harassment risk and wages for European women employees using individual-level data provided by the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS, Eurostat). We find that sexual harassment risk has a negative and statistically significant effect on wages of -0.03% on average for women in Europe. However, our empirical analysis uncovers the importance of considering the dynamics of workplace power relations: analyzing individual-level data, we find evidence of a higher negative impact of sexual harassment risk on wages for women working in counter-stereotypical occupations. We conclude that the wage effect of hostile working conditions, mainly in terms of sexual harassment risk in the workplace, should be considered and monitored as a first critical step in making women be less vulnerable at work and increasing their bargaining power, thereby reducing inequalities in working conditions and pay in Europe." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Europäische Kommission. Generaldirektion Beschäftigung, Soziales und Integration (2023): Quarterly Review of Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) - April 2023. (Employment and social developments in Europe : Quarterly review), Luxembourg, 25 S.

Abstract

"The thematic part of this review focuses on gender segregation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and healthcare occupations across EU Member States. This is an important topic in the context of the upcoming European Year of Skills, because gender segregation can both limit the efficiency of matching labour supply with demand and results in suboptimal use of women’s and men’s talents. The thematic focus shows that both STEM and healthcare occupations are heavily gender segregated in nearly all Member States. It highlights that in many countries, much of the existing segregation is explained by the fact that female and male workers tend to hold qualifications in different study fields – this applies particularly in the case of STEM occupations. Finally, it demonstrates that in most Member States, desegregation offers an important opportunity to attract new workers into STEM and healthcare occupations facing shortages." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Alcidi, Cinzia & Alexandre Ounnas (2022): Can the Pay Transparency Directive close the gender pay gap? (CEPS policy insights 2022-06), Brussels, 10 S.

Abstract

"Today, our thoughts go out to all women who have had to flee Ukraine to escape horror and to save their children, and to all those women who have remained behind to help defend their homeland. To those men and women who have the chance to live in (still) peaceful EU countries, we want to recall that gender equality remains a top priority. In the EU, major progress has been made in advancing women’s rights over the past 25 years but challenges still remain, especially on the labour market. The gender pay gap is definitely not yet closed. Despite progress over the past few years, women in the EU are still paid less than men for equal work of equal value. In 2018, the gap was on average 14 %, and it is likely to have increased during the pandemic. In 2019, President von der Leyen put gender equality among the six priorities of her new Commission. In March 2021 the Commission published a proposal for a Directive to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms. Is pay transparency important to close the gender pay gap? The short answer is yes. Over time women have been closing gaps relative to men in education, labour market participation, and attitude; areas which typically (used to) explain the gap. Yet pay differences persist. New research points to within-company dynamics as one of the most significant contributors to the pay gap. The directive proposes to address it through transparency and information sharing. This is expected to reduce the gender pay gap, even though the implementation, and in particular the operationalisation of the concept of equal work, will pose challenges to companies, and eventually can negatively weigh on the overall benefits." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bartova, Alzbeta, Adeline Otto & Wim Van Lancker (2022): Making Parental Leave Policies Work for Single Mothers: Lessons from Europe. In: The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Jg. 702, H. 1, S. 129-148. DOI:10.1177/00027162221134445

Abstract

"It is well documented that national parental leave policies encourage parents’ employment. Research on parental leave, though, has generally failed to draw lessons on how leave policy affects the employment and economic well-being of single parents. We examine the extent to which parental leave policies support the employment of single mothers with children under six years old across twenty-seven European countries, showing that single mothers are more likely to work and to work longer hours if they are eligible for parental leave. For single mothers who were not working before childbirth, eligibility for generous leave benefits and longer parental leave are associated with better employment outcomes after childbirth. We argue that while parental leave sustains employment for working single mothers, it might also facilitate entry into employment for nonworking mothers." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bohmann, Sandra & Stefan Liebig (2022): Knapp ein Drittel der EuropäerInnen zweifelt an Chancengerechtigkeit auf dem Arbeitsmarkt. In: DIW-Wochenbericht, Jg. 89, H. 7, S. 97-106. DOI:10.18723/diw_wb:2022-7-3

Abstract

"Chancengerechtigkeit ist ein zentraler Bestandteil unserer Erwartungen an eine demokratische Gesellschaft. Dies gilt auch für den Arbeitsmarkt: Dieser Wochenbericht untersucht anhand von Befragungsdaten des European Social Survey 2018 (ESS), wie die europäischen Bürgerinnen und Bürger ihre Chancen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt ihrer Heimatländer einschätzen und welche Faktoren auf gesellschaftlicher und individueller Ebene dabei eine Rolle spielen. Etwa ein Drittel der Befragten ist skeptisch, was die allgemeine Chancengerechtigkeit auf dem Arbeitsmarkt in ihrem Land betrifft. Die eigenen Chancen schätzt immerhin die Hälfte der Befragten als gerecht ein. Sowohl die allgemeinen als auch die eigenen Chancen auf dem Arbeitsmarkt werden im Norden Europas etwas positiver bewertet als im Süden. Ohnehin benachteiligte Gruppen beurteilen auch ihre Arbeitsmarktchancen weniger positiv. Insgesamt zeigt sich ein klarer Zusammenhang zwischen der wahrgenommenen Changengerechtigkeit und der Zufriedenheit mit der Demokratie im eigenen Land." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Canaan, Serena, Anne Sophie Lassen, Philip Rosenbaum & Herdis Steingrimsdottir (2022): Maternity Leave and Paternity Leave: Evidence on the Economic Impact of Legislative Chances in High Income Countries. (IZA discussion paper 15129), Bonn, 48 S.

Abstract

"Labor market policies for expecting and new mothers emerged at the turn of the nineteenth century. The main motivation for these policies was to ensure the health of mothers and their newborn children. With increased female labor market participation, the focus has gradually shifted to the effects that parental leave policies have on women's labor market outcomes and gender equality. Proponents of extending parental leave rights for mothers in terms of duration, benefits, and job protection have argued that this will support mothers' labor market attachment and allow them to take time off from work after childbirth and then safely return to their pre-birth job. Others have pointed out that extended maternity leave can work as a double-edged sword for mothers: If young women are likely to spend months, or even years, on leave, employers are likely to take that into consideration when hiring and promoting their employees. These policies may therefore end up adversely affecting women's labor market outcomes. This has led to an increased focus on activating fathers to take parental leave, and in 2019, the European Parliament approved a directive requiring member states to ensure at least two months of earmarked paternity leave. The literature on parental leave has proliferated over the last couple of decades. The increased number of studies on the topic has brought forth some consistent findings. First, the introduction of short maternity leave is found to be beneficial for both maternal and child health and for mothers' labor market outcomes. Second, there appear to be negligible benefits from a leave extending beyond six months in terms of health out-comes and children's long-run outcomes. Furthermore, longer leaves have little, or even adverse, influence on mothers' labor market outcomes. However, some evidence suggests that there may be underlying heterogeneous effects from extended leaves among different socioeconomic groups. The literature on the effect of earmark" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Costantini, Anastasia & Alessia Sebillo (2022): Gender Equality and Women Empowerment in Social Economy Enterprises: Enablers and Barriers. (Working paper / CIRIEC 2022,02), Liège, 34 S.

Abstract

"Women remain underrepresented in the labour market. In the EU, they earn 14,1% less than men, and they still experience barriers to access and remain at the labour market (Eurostat, 2021a). Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the gender dimension of social and economic inequalities, producing a severe gender impact and the risk of economic marginalisation of women. Why do we expect the social and solidarity economy to improve gender equality at work? Therefore, the paper will discuss the potential and limits of the SEEs in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. The analysis has referenced existing literature and available information on the sector, including interviews with experts and illustrative cases within Diesis Network2, one of the broadest European networks supporting the social economy and social enterprise development. The aim is to show impactful solutions of SEEs and bring social and solidarity economy closer to the gender perspective to increase their impact in supporting inclusive and sustainable growth." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Korsgren, Pontus & Max van Lent (2022): Earmarked Paternity Leave and Well-Being. (IZA discussion paper 15022), Bonn, 24 S.

Abstract

"Earmarked paternity leave has been introduced in an attempt to increase fathers' involvement in child rearing and to achieve gender equality in the labor market and at home. So far well-being effects of such policies are unexplored. This paper takes a first step in that direction by studying the impact of earmarked paternity leave quota on life satisfaction, job satisfaction, and work-life balance using several policy changes in Europe over the period 1993-2007. We find that earmarked paternity leave increases life satisfaction by 0.18 on a 10 point scale which is equivalent to a 10.8 percentage point increase even decades later. Both fathers and mothers benefit, though the increase in life satisfaction for mothers is nearly 30% higher than that of fathers. Perhaps surprisingly, the impact on job satisfaction and work-life balance is close to zero. Hence even when the impact of paternity leave quota on the labor market are small, the increases in life satisfaction may still justify the existence of such policies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Matysiak, Anna, Daniela Bellani & Honorata Bogusz (2022): Industrial robots and fertility in European countries. (Working papers / Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw 2022-26), Warsaw, 65 S.

Abstract

"In this study we examine whether the long-term structural changes in the labour market, driven by automation, affect fertility. Adoption of industrial robots in the EU has tripled since the mid-1990s, tremendously changing the conditions of participating in the labour market. On the one hand, new jobs are created, benefitting largely the highly skilled workers. On the other hand, the growing turnover in the labour market and changing content of jobs induce fears of job displacement and make workers continuously adjust to new requirements (reskill, upskill, increase work efforts). The consequences of these changes are particularly strong for the employment and earning prospects of the low and middle educated workers. Our focus is on six European countries: Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom. We link regional data on fertility and employment structures by industry from Eurostat (NUTS-2) with data on robot adoption from the International Federation of Robotics. We estimate fixed effects linear models with instrumental variables in order to account for the external shocks which may affect fertility and robot adoption in parallel. Our findings suggest robots tend to exert a negative impact on fertility in highly industrialised regions, regions with relatively low educated populations and those which are technologically less advanced. At the same time, better educated and prospering regions may even experience fertility improvements as a result of the technological change. The family and labour market institutions of the country may further moderate these effects." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Nieuwenhuis, Rense (2022): No activation without reconciliation? The interplay between ALMP and ECEC in relation to women employment unemployment and inactivity in 30 OECD countries 1985-2018. In: Social Policy and Administration, Jg. 56, H. 5, S. 808-826. DOI:10.1111/spol.12806

Abstract

"Comparative welfare state research as examined the outcomes of active labour market policies (ALMP) and work-family reconciliation policies by and large been separately. As a result, potential complementarities between these policy areas have received scant attention empirically. Using macro-level data, this study answers the question to what extent, and in which way, governments' efforts in ALMP and in early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are complementary to each other in promoting women's employment rates and reducing women's unemployment and inactivity rates in 30 OECD countries from 1985 to 2018. The article theorises about how the various policies that constitute a welfare state relate to each other, distinguishing between pluralism, complementarity and substitutability. These findings provide support for the notion of welfare pluralism, in the sense that ALMP and ECEC policies work together in improving women's employment rates in slightly different ways: ALMP achieve this through reducing women's unemployment rates, whereas ECEC also achieve lower inactivity rates for women. There was, however, more support for the notion of substitution rather than complementarity: the marginal benefits associated with an increase in either ALMP or ECEC were smaller in the context of large investments in the other policy. In other words, the highest rates of women's employment, and the lowest rates of unemployment and inactivity, are found in countries with large investments in both ALMP and ECEC, but such higher investments are associated with diminishing returns." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Palencia-Esteban, Amaia (2022): Occupational segregation of female and male immigrants in Europe: Accounting for cross-country differences. In: International Labour Review, Jg. 161, H. 3, S. 341-373. DOI:10.1111/ilr.12207

Abstract

"This article studies occupational segregation in Europe by gender and immigration status using the European Labour Force Survey for 2005–19. Unlike previous studies, it quantifies levels of segregation separately for female and male immigrants in each country. Overall, male immigrants experience lower occupational segregation than their female counterparts and the second generation is less segregated than the first. Segregation is generally lower in North-Western Europe and higher in the South-East. A counterfactual analysis reveals that immigrants' characteristics explain a small part of these cross-country differences. Institutional setting, integration policies and country-specific norms might play a major role." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

Abstract

"Unpaid care duties are key to gender gaps in the labor market. As illustrated in the report, across the Member States, care responsibilities are equally shared between women and men only in about one-third of families. The interplay between labour market and household conditions may create vicious cycles. The unequal division of unpaid care work between men and women reduces women’s access to and permanency in the labor market, and leads to a concentration of women in sectors and jobs allowing greater working time flexibility at the price of lower wages and career opportunities. Gender gaps in the labor market themselves reinforce the unequal division of unpaid care work in households. Work-life balance policies are therefore key for supporting women’s labor market participation and employment and achieving gender equality in the labour market. Although cultural and social norms on the gender division of unpaid work in the household are still relevant, the availability, affordability and quality of childcare and long-term care services, eligibility criteria, length and compensation level of parental, paternity and carers leaves, and flexible working arrangements all play an important role in promoting equal sharing of care tasks in the household enabling full and equal labor market participation." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Amate-Fortes, Ignacio, Almudena Guarnido-Rueda, Diego Martínez-Navarro & Francisco J. Oliver-Márquez (2021): Measuring inequality in income distribution between men and women: what causes gender inequality in Europe? In: Quality & quantity, Jg. 55, H. 2, S. 395-418. DOI:10.1007/s11135-020-01009-2

Abstract

"Two objectives have been raised in this paper. On the one hand, an index has been elaborated that tries to measure the inequality of the income distribution between men and women. Secondly, the factors that determine this inequality have been analyzed, paying special attention to the role of the public sector through social expenditure policy. To this end, a panel data has been estimated for 33 European countries over a period of 15 years. The results show that income inequality and gender inequality are closely linked, and that social spending in general and health spending in particular improve income distribution equity between men and women." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Bacheron, Johanne (2021): The impact of paternity leave on mothers' employment in Europe. (AMSE working paper 2021,10 halshs-03145794), Paris, 48 S.

Abstract

"In this paper, I use a pseudo-panel approach with data from the European Union Labour Force Survey to study the impact of paternity leave policies on mothers' employment in ten countries. Using a dynamic Difference-in-Difference strategy, I show that paternity leave increased mothers' employment rate by up to 17% in the long run, and average hours worked by 2 to 4%. There is substantial heterogeneity across countries in the effect of paternity leave policies. The impact on employment rates is positive and significant in eight of the ten countries of the sample, while the impact on hours worked can be either positive or negative. I find no evidence that the reforms had any impact on Greece or Portugal." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Baranowska-Rataj, Anna & Mattias Strandh (2021): When things go wrong with you, it hurts me too: The effects of partner's employment status on health in comparative perspective. In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 31, H. 2, S. 143-160. DOI:10.1177/0958928720963330

Abstract

"The effects of changes in employment status on health within couples have attracted increasing attention. This paper contributes to this emerging research by investigating whether the impact of a partner’s employment status on individual self-rated health varies systematically across countries with varying decommodification levels. We use longitudinal data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) and hybrid models. We find that a change in an individual’s employment status may affect the health not just of the person who experiences this transition, but that of his or her partner. The likelihood that such a spillover will occur varies across countries with different decommodification levels. The negative effects of a partner’s employment status on self-rated health are observed when the generosity of welfare state support is limited. The moderating effects of financial support from the state are not very strong, though. They are not robust across all our models and do not extend to all the dimensions of the generosity of welfare state support." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Berniell, Maria Ines, Lucila Berniell, Dolores De la Mata, María Edo, Yarine Fawaz, Matilde P. Machado & Mariana Marchionni (2021): Motherhood and the Allocation of Talent. (IZA discussion paper 14491), Bonn, 40 S.

Abstract

"In this paper we show that motherhood triggers changes in the allocation of talent in the labor market besides the well-known effects on gender gaps in employment and earnings. We use an event study approach with retrospective data for 29 countries drawn from SHARE to assess the labor market responses to motherhood across groups with different educational attainment, math ability by the age of 10, and personality traits. We find that while even the most talented women— both in absolute terms and relative to their husbands—leave the labor market or uptake part-time jobs after the birth of the first child, all men, including the least talented, stay employed. We also find that motherhood induces a negative selection of talents into self-employment. Overall, our results suggest relevant changes in the allocation of talent caused by gender differences in nonmarket responsibilities that can have sizable impacts on aggregate market productivity. We also show that the size of labor market responses to motherhood are larger in societies with more conservative social-norms or with weaker policies regarding work-life balance." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Chica-Olmoa, Jorge & Marina Checa-Olivas (2021): Spatial impact of factors influencing the achievement of the Europa2020 employment targets. In: Papers in Regional Science, Jg. 100, H. 3, S. 633-649. DOI:10.1111/pirs.12592

Abstract

"In this paper, autologistic models are used to examine the impact of certain factors on the likelihood of European regions’ ability to meet the employment target for both men and women for the year 2017 in 270 EU regions at NUTS 2 level. The results show the role of both regional and gender differences in forming spatial clusters, as well as the presence of spatial interaction in achievement of the target. Moreover, meeting the European strategy's education target and increasing a region’s GDP levels also have a positive impact on achieving the targets. These findings may be of interest for the implementation of socio‐economic policies at a regional level, aimed at raising the employment rate for men and women in European regions." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Ciminelli, Gabriele, Cyrille Schwellnus & Balazs Stadler (2021): Sticky floors or glass ceilings? The role of human capital, working time flexibility and discrimination in the gender wage gap. (OECD Economics Department working papers 1668), Paris, 43 S. DOI:10.1787/02ef3235-en

Abstract

"Despite changes in social norms and policies, on average across 25 European countries, there remains a gap of around 15% in hourly earnings between similarly-qualified men and women. This raises inequality and limits growth by preventing women from reaching their full labour market potential. Using individual-level data, this paper quantifies the main drivers of gender wage gaps with a view to devising effective policies to reduce them. The findings suggest that, on average, “sticky floors” related to social norms, gender stereotyping and discrimination account for 40% of the gender wage gap, while the “glass ceiling” related to the motherhood penalty accounts for around 60%. The importance of the “glass ceiling” is especially large in most Northern and Western European countries, while “sticky floors” explain the major part of the gap in most Central and Eastern European countries. These results imply that most Northern and Western European countries need to prioritise policies to address the motherhood penalty, such as further promoting flexitime and telework and supporting early childcare. Most Central and Eastern European as well as Southern European countries, where “sticky floors” are more important, additionally need to prioritise equal pay and pay transparency laws, measures to address gender stereotyping, competition in product markets, as well as higher wage floors where they are currently low." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Gimenez-Nadal, Jose Ignacio & José Alberto Molina (2021): How do women allocate their available time in Europe? Differences with men. (GLO discussion paper / Global Labor Organization 908), Maastricht, 42 S.

Abstract

"This article explores the gender gap in time allocation in Europe, offering up-to-date statistics and information on several factors that may help to explain these differences. Prior research has identified several factors affecting the time individuals devote to paid work, unpaid work, and child care, and the gender gaps in these activities, but most research refers to single countries, and general patterns are rarely explored. Cross-country evidence on gender gaps in paid work, unpaid work, and child care is offered, and explanations based on education, earnings, and household structure are presented, using data from the EUROSTAT and the Multinational Time Use Surveys. There are large cross-country differences in the gender gaps in paid work, unpaid work, and child care, which remain after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, although the gender gap in paid work dissipates when the differential gendered relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and paid work is taken into account. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of gender gaps in Europe, helping to focus recent debates on how to tackle inequality in Europe, and clarifying the factors that contribute to gender inequalities in the uses of time." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Lightman, Naomi & Anthony Kevins (2021): "Women's Work": Welfare State Spending and the Gendered and Classed Dimensions of Unpaid Care. In: Gender & Society, Jg. 35, H. 5, S. 778-805. DOI:10.1177/08912432211038695

Abstract

"This study is the first to explicitly assess the connections between welfare state spending and the gendered and classed dimensions of unpaid care work across 29 European nations. Our research uses multi-level model analysis of European Quality of Life Survey data, examining childcare and housework burdens for people living with at least one child under the age of 18. Two key findings emerge: First, by disaggregating different types of unpaid care work, we find that childcare provision is more gendered than classed—reflecting trends toward “intensive mothering”. Housework and cooking, on the contrary, demonstrate both gender and class effects, likely because they are more readily outsourced by wealthier individuals to the paid care sector. Second, while overall social expenditure has no effect on hours spent on childcare and housework, results suggest that family policy may shape the relationship between gender, income, and housework (but not childcare). Specifically, family policy expenditure is associated with a considerably smaller gender gap vis-à-vis the time dedicated to housework: This effect is present across the income spectrum, but is particularly substantial in the case of lower income women." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Magda, Iga & Katarzyna Lipowska (2021): Flexibility of Working Time Arrangements and Female Labor Market Outcome. (IZA discussion paper 14812), Bonn, 18 S.

Abstract

"We use data from the 2019 EU Labor Force Survey to study gender and parenthood gaps in two dimensions of flexibility in working time arrangements in 25 European countries. We find that overall in Europe, there is no statistically significant gender difference in access to flexible work arrangements. However, women are less likely than men to have flexible working hours in the Central-Eastern and Southern European countries, whereas this gender gap is reversed in Continental Europe. At the same time, women are less likely than men to face demands from their employers that they work flexible hours. We also find that both mothers and fathers are more likely than their childless colleagues to have access to flexible working hours, but that fathers' workplaces are more likely than mothers' workplaces to demand temporal flexibility from employees. In addition, we find that working in a female-dominated occupation decreases the probability of having access to flexible work arrangements, and that this effect is stronger for women than for men. At the same time, we observe that both men and women who work in female-dominated occupations are less exposed to flexibility demands from employers than their counterparts who work in male-dominated or gender-neutral occupations. Finally, we find that compared to employers in other Europeans countries, employers in the Central and Eastern European countries are less likely to offer flexible working hours, especially to women, and with no additional flexibility being offered to parents; whereas employers in Continental and Nordic countries are more likely to offer flexible work arrangements, and with no gender gap." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Moriconi, Simone & Núria Rodríguez-Planas (2021): Gender Norms and the Motherhood Employment Gap. (CESifo working paper 9471), München, 45 S.

Abstract

"Using individual-level data from the European Social Survey, we study the relevance of gender norms in accounting for the motherhood employment gap across 186 European NUTS2 regions (over 29 countries) for the 2002-2016 period. The gender norm variable is taken from a question on whether “men should have more right to a job than women when jobs are scarce” and represents the average extent of disagreement (on a scale 1 to 5) of women belonging to the “grandmothers” cohort. We address the potential endogeneity of our gender norms measure with an index of the degree of reproductive health liberalization when grandmothers were 20 years old. We also account for the endogeneity of motherhood with the level of reproductive health liberalization when mothers were 20 years old. We find a robust positive association between progressive beliefs among the grandmothers' cohort and mothers' likelihood to work while having a small child (0 to 5 years old) relative to similar women without children. No similar association is found among men. Our analysis underscores the role of gender norms and maternal employment, suggesting that non-traditional gender norms mediate on the employment gender gap mainly via motherhood." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Schmieder, Julia & Katharina Wrohlich (2021): Gender Pay Gap im europäischen Vergleich: Positiver Zusammenhang zwischen Frauenerwerbsquote und Lohnlücke. In: DIW-Wochenbericht, Jg. 88, H. 9, S. 141-147. DOI:10.18723/diw_wb:2021-9-3

Abstract

"Das öffentliche Interesse am Gender Pay Gap ist in den letzten Jahren in Deutschland deutlich gestiegen. Gleichzeitig hat sich bei der prozentualen Lohnlücke zwischen Frauen und Männern hierzulande kaum etwas getan. Ein europäischer Vergleich zeigt, dass niedrigere Frauenerwerbsquoten tendenziell mit einem niedrigeren Gender Pay Gap einhergehen. Eine Erklärung hierfür sind über die Länder variierende Geschlechterunterschiede in den Charakteristika der erwerbstätigen Bevölkerung. Sowohl im Vergleich zu allen Ländern als auch ausschließlich zu solchen mit ähnlichen Frauenerwerbsquoten hat Deutschland einen der höchsten Gender Pay Gaps in Europa. Im Gegensatz dazu fallen die nordischen Länder mit ihren vergleichsweise niedrigen Lohnlücken bei gleichzeitig hohen Frauenerwerbsquoten im europäischen Vergleich besonders positiv auf. Die Ausweitung der Partnermonate beim Elterngeld, der quantitative und qualitative Ausbau der Kinderbetreuung und eine Reform des Ehegattensplittings sind geeignete Instrumente um mehr Gleichstellung am Arbeitsmarkt zu erreichen – sowohl hinsichtlich der Erwerbsbeteiligung als auch der Löhne." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Sikirić, Ana Marija (2021): The Effect of Childcare Use on Gender Equality in European Labor Markets. In: Feminist economics, Jg. 27, H. 4, S. 90-113. DOI:10.1080/13545701.2021.1933560

Abstract

"Parenthood necessarily increases the scope of unpaid work in households and tends to depress women’s employment rates relative to men’s. This paper examines the relationship between the use of full-time childcare for children under 3 years of age and employment rates for men and women with one, two, or three or more children under 6 years of age in European households. Panel data from a sample of the (then) twenty-eight European Union member states for the 2005–15 period were analyzed. The results indicate that smaller differences between employment rates of men and women with one, two, or three or more children under 6 years of age are associated with greater use of full-time childcare arrangements for children under the age of 3." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Winkle, Zachary Van & Anette Fasang (2021): The complexity of employment and family life courses across 20th century Europe: More evidence for larger cross-national differences but little change across 1916‒1966 birth cohorts. In: Demographic Research, Jg. 44, S. 775-810. DOI:10.4054/DemRes.2021.44.32

Abstract

"Background: There has been much debate whether work and family lives became more complex in past decades, that is, exhibiting more frequent transitions and more uncertainty. Van Winkle and Fasang (2017) and Van Winkle (2018) first benchmarked change in employment and family complexity over time against cross-national differences in 14 European countries. Compared to sizeable and stable cross-national differences, the increase in employment and family complexity was small across cohorts. However, these studies could not include cohorts born past the late 1950s assumed to be most affected by the structural changes driving life course complexity and were limited to a relatively small set of West European countries. Objective: We replicate and extend these studies by adding over 15 additional countries in Eastern Europe and a decade of younger birth cohorts. Methods: The 3rd and 7th waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe, sequence complexity metrics, and cross-classified modelling are used to simultaneously quantify the proportions of variance attributable to cohort and country differences in work and family lives between ages 18 to 50. Results: The updated findings still support a negligible increase in family complexity and a moderate increase in employment complexity that pale in comparison to large and stable cross-national differences for individuals born between 1916 and 1966 for work and family lives experienced from 1934 to 2016 in 30 European countries. Specifically, 15 and 10% of employment and family complexity is nested across countries, compared to 5.5 and 2% across birth cohorts. However, the analyses also indicate a polarization in Europe between most Eastern and Southern European countries with stable and low family complexity compared to Nordic and some Western European countries with high and increasing family complexity. In contrast, moderately increasing employment complexity is a Europe-wide trend. Conclusions: This study both replicates the original studies' findings that cross-cohort change is minor compared to large cross-national differences, and is a substantive extension by addressing a large deficit of description on family and employment life course change in the Balkan and Baltic regions. Contribution: Cross-national comparisons are particularly promising for understanding the institutional drivers of employment and family instability." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Max-Planck-Institut für demographische Forschung) ((en))

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Aksoy, Cevat Giray, Berkay Ozcan & Julia Philipp (2020): Robots and the Gender Pay Gap in Europe. (IZA discussion paper 13482), 48 S.

Abstract

"Could robotization make the gender pay gap worse? We provide the first large-scale evidence on the impact of industrial robots on the gender pay gap using data from 20 European countries. We show that robot adoption increases both male and female earnings but also increases the gender pay gap. Using an instrumental variable strategy, we find that a ten percent increase in robotization leads to a 1.8 percent increase in the gender pay gap. These results are mainly driven by countries with high levels of gender inequality and outsourcing destination countries. We then explore the mechanisms behind this effect and find that our results can be explained by the fact that men at medium- and high-skill occupations disproportionately benefit from robotization (through a productivity effect). We rule out the possibility that our results are driven by mechanical changes in the gender composition of the workforce nor by inflows or outflows from the manufacturing sector." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Cabrita, Jorge, Julie Vanderleyden, Isabella Biletta & Barbara Gerstenberger (2020): Gender equality at work. (Eurofound research report / European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions), Genf, 93 S. DOI:10.2806/934654

Abstract

"Gender inequality at work persists across Europe, despite the long standing attention paid and efforts made to tackle it. This Eurofound report presents a closer look at women’s and men’s working conditions, using data from Eurofound’s European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) and complementing previous Eurofound research on, among other things, working time patterns, work–life balance and workers’ health. Beyond the general differences in the labour market, it highlights many important gaps in men’s and women’s working conditions and job quality which require specific attention. According to the EWCS data, the reduction of gender gaps in those areas showing improvement over the last 5 to 10 years remains limited. European and national strategies aimed at achieving job quality for all, that seek to mainstream gender equality, could help address persistent inequalities between men and women." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Fernández-Macías, Enrique & José-María Arranz-Muñoz (2020): Occupations and the recent trends in wage inequality in Europe. In: European journal of industrial relations, Jg. 26, H. 3, S. 331-346. DOI:10.1177/0959680119866041

Abstract

"We aim to contribute to a better understanding of the role that occupations played in recent trends in wage inequality in some European countries. Using EU-SILC data, we observe that most of the changes in wage inequality between 2005 and 2014 were the result of changes in the distribution of wages within occupations. A longer term approximation using data from the Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) shows similar patterns. We conclude that occupational dynamics did not drive recent trends in wage inequality in Europe." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Goossen, Mikael (2020): The gender gap in welfare state attitudes in Europe. The role of unpaid labour and family policy. In: Journal of European Social Policy, Jg. 30, H. 4, S. 452-466. DOI:10.1177/0958928719899337

Abstract

"Previous research has shown a prevailing ‘modern gender gap’ in socio-political attitudes in advanced capitalist economies. While numerous studies have confirmed gender differences in attitudes towards the welfare state in Europe, few have addressed the reason for this rift in men’s and women’s views about the role of government in ensuring the general welfare of citizens. In this article, I examine the relationship between gender equality in unpaid labour, family policy and the gender gap in welfare state attitudes. Based on data from 21 countries participating in the European Social Survey (ESS) Round 4, and using a mix of country- and individual-level regression models and multilevel models, I find that there is a clear relationship between country-level gender equality in unpaid labour and gender differences in support of an encompassing welfare state. A more equal distribution of unpaid care and domestic work correlates with women being increasingly supportive of a large and encompassing welfare state, in comparison with men. This pattern holds when controlling for individual-level economic risk and resources, cultural factors such as trust and social values traditionally related to the support of an encompassing welfare state, and beliefs about welfare state efficiency and consequences for society in general. This pattern is evident for countries with a low level of familistic policies, while no distinguishable pattern is discernible for highly familistic countries. These findings have implications for the perception of gender as an emergent social cleavage with respect to welfare state attitudes. The results are discussed in the light of institutional theories on policy feedback, familism, social role theory and previous findings relating to modernization theory and ‘gender realignment’." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Karabchuk, Tatiana (2020): Job Instability and Fertility Intentions of Young Adults in Europe: Does Labor Market Legislation Matter? In: The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Jg. 688, H. 1, S. 225-245. DOI:10.1177/0002716220910419

Abstract

"Total birth rates have fallen dramatically in many European countries during the last 40 years. Job and income instability caused by labor market polarization are significant drivers of declining birth rates because employment certainty and stability are crucial to childbirth planning among young adults. This article investigates the impact of job instability on the fertility intentions of young adults in Europe, focusing on employment protection legislation (EPL) in European countries. I use data from twenty-seven countries that participated in the European Social Survey in 2004 and 2010 to show that job instability measured as temporary employment, informal work, and unemployment decreases fertility intentions among European youth regardless of the EPL in the country. Unemployed young adults tend to plan less for having their first child in the countries with high EPL. Contrary to the hypotheses, multilevel modeling showed that young people in temporary or informal employment in countries with low EPL show decreases in their fertility intentions." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Lauri, Triin, Kaire Põder & Rossella Ciccia (2020): Pathways to gender equality. A configurational analysis of childcare instruments and outcomes in 21 European countries. In: Social Policy and Administration, Jg. 54, H. 5, S. 646-665. DOI:10.1111/spol.12562

Abstract

"The ability to produce desired outcomes represents an important basis of the legitimacy of social policies. Nonetheless, policy outcomes have not systematically figured in the analysis of childcare regimes despite growing political interest in issues such as female employment, gender wage gap, and men's involvement in childcare. In this article, we use fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to investigate the relationship between the configuration of policy instruments, attitudes toward childcare and outcomes in 21 European countries. Our results show that there is only one mix of policy instruments consistently linked with positive gen- der equality outcomes and this route has the quality of the universal caregiver model. It also demonstrates that both a combination of policy instruments and favorable attitudinal factors are necessary to produce desirable outcomes in the gender division of paid work and unpaid childcare." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Muller, Joanne S., Nicole Hiekel & Aart C. Liefbroer (2020): The Long-Term Costs of Family Trajectories: Women's Later-Life Employment and Earnings Across Europe. In: Demography, Jg. 57, H. 3, S. 1007-1034. DOI:10.1007/s13524-020-00874-8

Abstract

"The “motherhood earnings penalty” is a well-established finding in many Western countries. However, a divide between mothers and nonmothers might oversimplify reality given that the family life course has diversified over the last decades. In addition, whether family choices have consequences for women's employment and earnings in later life is not well known, particularly in a comparative perspective. Using data on 50- to 59-year-old women from the Generations and Gender Programme, the British Household Panel Survey, and SHARELIFE for 22 European countries, we derive a typology of women's family trajectories and estimate its association with women's later-life employment and earnings. Whereas family trajectory–related differences with regard to employment were relatively small, our findings reveal a clear, long-lasting family trajectory gradient in earnings. Childless women (with or without a partner) as well as single mothers had higher personal earnings than women whose family trajectories combined parenthood and partnership. Moreover, in societies in which reconciliation of work and family during midlife is less burdensome, labor market outcomes of women following different family trajectories converge. Our findings show that women's fertility and partnership behavior are inevitably interrelated and jointly influence employment and earning patterns until later in life. The results imply that promoting equal employment opportunities could have long-lasting effects on women's economic independence." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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European Institute for Gender Equality (2020): Gender equality index 2020. Digitalisation and the future of work. (Gender equality index …), Vilnius, 178 S. DOI:10.2839/79077

Abstract

"The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was a wake-up call for gender equality in Europe. It reminded us about everyday gender inequalities in our society that often go unnoticed – from the shortage of men working in the care sector to the reality of violence facing women in abusive relationships. While it will still take time to fully understand the consequences of COVID-19 for gender equality, it’s clear that it poses a serious threat to the fragile achievements made over the past decade. This year, the Index report focuses on the effects of digitalisation on the world of work and the consequences for gender equality. This topic is extremely relevant in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ways in which the working lives of women and men have been affected by it. New types of jobs and innovative ways of working through online platforms were analysed to gain an understanding of who is doing these jobs and whether they help or hinder gender equality. With a detailed analysis for the EU and each Member State, the Index shows country-level achievements and areas for improvement. More than ever, policymakers need the data that the Index provides. We hope that our findings will help Europe’s leaders to design future solutions that are inclusive and promote gender equality in our post-COVID-19 society." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Aumayr-Pintar, Christine (2019): Parental and paternity leave - Uptake by fathers. Working conditions. (Eurofound ad hoc report), Dublin, 41 S. DOI:10.2806/753240

Abstract

"In the context of ongoing negotiations at EU level on adopting a work - life balance package for families and caregivers, Eurofound was requested by the European Commission to provide an update of the available data regarding paternity and parental leave for fathers. This report presents the currently available national statistics on the uptake of family-related leave by fathers over time across the EU28 and Norway, based on information compiled by the Network of Eurofound Correspondents. It gives a comparative overview of the main features of the various leave arrangements available for fathers, including information on duration, compensation, eligibility and the number of beneficiaries captured in the data. Despite the unevenness and lack of coherent statistics, the report concludes that in several Member States progress has been made in increasing the number and share of fathers who are taking parental or paternity leave." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Beham, Barbara, Sonja Drobnic, Patrick Präg, Andreas Baierl & Janin Eckner (2019): Part-time work and gender inequality in Europe. A comparative analysis of satisfaction with work-life balance. In: European Societies, Jg. 21, H. 3, S. 378-402. DOI:10.1080/14616696.2018.1473627

Abstract

"Part-time work is an increasingly common strategy for handling work and family - but is it an effective strategy everywhere and for everyone? To answer this question, we examine satisfaction with work-life balance (SWLB) of workers in 22 European countries. Our results show that part-time workers have higher SWLB than full-time workers; the more so, the fewer hours they put in. Yet, we find an important gender difference: women in marginal part-time work are more satisfied than men in a similar situation, and conversely men in full-time work have higher SWLB than women working full-time. Further, the societal context plays an important role: substantial part-time work is more conducive to SWLB in more gender-egalitarian countries than in countries with low gender equality. Hence, a supportive gender climate and institutional support may entice workers to reduce working hours moderately, which results in markedly increased levels of SWLB." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bick, Alexander, Bettina Brüggemann, Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln & Hannah Paule-Paludkiewicz (2019): Long-term changes in married couples' labor supply and taxes: Evidence from the US and Europe since the 1980s. In: Journal of International Economics, Jg. 118, H. May, S. 44-62. DOI:10.1016/j.jinteco.2019.01.014

Abstract

"We document the time-series of employment rates and hours worked per employed by married couples in the US and seven European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the UK) from the early 1980s through 2016. Relying on a model of joint household labor supply decisions, we quantitatively analyze the role of non-linear labor income taxes for explaining the evolution of hours worked of married couples over time, using as inputs the full country- and year-specific statutory labor income tax codes. We further evaluate the role of consumption taxes, gender and educational wage premia, and the educational composition. The model is quite successful in replicating the time series behavior of hours worked per employed married woman, with labor income taxes being the key driving force. It does however capture only part of the secular increase in married women's employment rates in the 1980s and early 1990s, suggesting an important role for factors not considered in this paper. An independent and important contribution of the paper is that we make the non-linear tax codes used as an input into the analysis available as a user-friendly and easily integrable set of Matlab codes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku, © 2023 Elsevier) ((en))

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Brimblecombe, Simon & Shea McClanahan (2019): Improving gender outcomes in social security retirement systems. In: Social policy and administration, Jg. 53, H. 3, S. 327-342. DOI:10.1111/spol.12476

Abstract

"Assessing whether retirement systems meet their varying objectives requires analysing outcomes across different categories of beneficiaries with different working, financial, demographic, and family situations. Policymakers should therefore assess systems on the distribution of outcomes rather than average outcomes.
Much has been written about the gender inequalities inherent in labour markets and how these are reflected and reproduced in pension systems, and there is growing evidence that recent reforms have exacerbated these trends. Recent research has turned to the policy measures available to policymakers to forestall or reverse these trends, but this literature tends to overlook important administrative measures that have the potential to reduce inequalities in access that could improve pension outcomes for women within the current policy framework. This paper examines the main issues surrounding gender inequality in retirement outcomes; explores the implications of recent reform trends in light of the differential outcomes for women, including policy options to mitigate the negative impacts; and concludes with a review of key administrative measures, including streamlining affiliation procedures, improving information, and simplifying payment of contributions and receipt of benefits and better compliance of employers." (Author's abstract, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Fuchs, Michaela, Anja Rossen, Antje Weyh & Gabriele Wydra-Somaggio (2019): Using the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition to quantitatively assess the gender pay gap. In: D. Wheatley (Hrsg.) (2019): Handbook of research methods on the quality of working lives, Elgar S. 224-234, 2018-12-07.

Abstract

"In this chapter we present the decomposition technique of Oaxaca (1973) and Blinder (1973), which is one of the most commonly used methods for analysing wage differences between men and women. It provides a comprehensive means to quantify the contribution of observed wage-determining characteristics and of unobserved characteristics to the gender pay gap. After an overview of the basic idea behind the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, we discuss its validity for empirical research, the major caveats that go along with its use and some subsequent extensions. This is illustrated with personal experience of using the decomposition for two research questions: first, for decomposing the gender pay gap for the countries of the European Union (EU), and, second, for single regions within Germany. We conclude with a discussion of the scope and limits of the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Gomez-Herrera, Estrella & Frank Müller-Langer (2019): Is there a gender wage gap in online labor markets? Evidence from over 250,000 projects and 2.5 million wage bill proposals. (CESifo working paper 7779), München, 34 S.

Abstract

"We explore whether there is a gender wage gap in one of the largest EU online labor markets, PeoplePerHour. Our unique dataset consists of 257,111 digitally tradeable tasks of 55,824 hiring employers from 188 countries and 65,010 workers from 173 countries that made more than 2.5 million wage bill proposals in the competition for contracts. Our data allows us to track the complete hiring process from the employers' design of proposed contracts to the competition among workers and the final agreement between employers and successful candidates. Using Heckman and OLS estimation methods we provide empirical evidence for a statistically significant 4% gender wage gap among workers, at the project level. We also find that female workers propose lower wage bills and are more likely to win the competition for contracts. Once we include workers' wage bill proposals in the regressions, the gender wage gap virtually disappears, i.e., it is statistically insignificant and very small in magnitude (0.3%). Our results also suggest that female workers' higher winning probabilities associated with lower wage bill proposals lead to higher expected revenues overall. We provide empirical evidence for heterogeneity of the gender wage gap in some of the job categories, all job difficulty levels and some of the worker countries. Finally, for some subsamples we find a statistically significant but very small ' reverse' gender wage gap." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Jungwirth, Ingrid & Carola Bauschke-Urban (Hrsg.) (2019): Gender and Diversity Studies. European Perspectives. Opladen: Budrich, 326 S. DOI:10.3224/84740549

Abstract

"What concepts of ‘gender’ and ‘diversity’ emerge in the different regions and pertinent research and practical fields? On the back drop of current European developments – from the deregulation of economy, a shrinking welfare state to the dissolution and reinforcement of borders – the book examines the development of Gender and Diversity Studies in different European regions as well as beyond and focuses on central fields of theoretical reflection, empirical research and practical implementation policies and politics. Anti-discrimination policies of the EU contribute to an institutionalization of Gender and Diversity Studies and interact with legal, political, societal and economic factors which shape the academic and practical fields. Pressure towards the deregulation of economy, the reduction of welfare state institutions, increased requirements of mobility for individuals and, at the same time, stronger regulations of migration have an impact on research and theory development in the field of Gender and Diversity Studies. While certain rights and anti-discrimination policies are being strengthened within the EU, and while inner borders between member states dissolve and – recently at the same time partially also increase – external borders of Europe are simultaneously being enforced. The large flows of refugee migration towards and into Europe has put these questions on top of the agenda. Taking these processes as well as social and political changes in different European and border regions into account, the state of the art as well as future perspectives of Gender and Diversity Studies are debated from multiple European and border perspectives. What concepts of ‘gender’ and ‘diversity’ emerge in the different regions and fields of studies?" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Maume, David J., Orlaith Heymann & Leah Ruppanner (2019): National board quotas and the gender pay gap among European managers. In: Work, employment and society, Jg. 33, H. 6, S. 1002-1019. DOI:10.1177/0950017019864509

Abstract

"As European countries have mandated quotas for women's representation on boards, and as women have increasingly entered the ranks of management, a persistent gender gap in managerial pay remains. Drawing a sample of managers in the 2010 European Social Survey, the gender gap in pay was decomposed, finding that employer devaluation of women accounted for the majority of the gender gap in pay. This was especially true in countries without mandated quotas, but in countries that had adopted quotas for female representation on boards, results were consistent with the proposition that quotas moderated the labour market for managers (i.e. the gender gap in managerial pay was smaller as was the portion of the gap attributable to discrimination). As board quotas have increasingly been adopted across Europe, more research is needed on their ameliorative effects on gender inequality in the wider labour market." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Sándor, Eszter & Eleonora Clerici (2019): Household composition and well-being. Quality of life. (Eurofound research report / European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions), Dublin, 70 S. DOI:10.2806/009582

Abstract

"Demographic change, social progress and economic cycles have impacted household composition in Europe. This report provides an overview of household types in the European Union, how they have changed over the period 2007–2017 and how household type relates to outcomes in terms of living conditions and well-being – such as life satisfaction, the feeling of social exclusion and mental well-being. Changes in household structure have a potential impact on demand for public services and social benefits. The report also discusses the policy implications of changing household composition and recent policies responding to the increasing diversity of households. The report underlines the importance of recognition of diverse family forms, of the provision of social support, and of family policy measures complementing income support in reducing inequality of well-being among households. " (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Europäische Kommission. Generaldirektion Justiz und Verbraucher (2019): Report on equality between women and men in the EU 2019. (Report on equality between women and men), Brüssel, 76 S. DOI:10.2838/776419

Abstract

"On the occasion of this year's International Women's Day, the Commission has published its 2019 report on equality between women and men in the EU.
The report shows some progress in gender equality, but women still continue to face inequalities in many areas:
- The EU employment rate for women reached an all-time high of 66.4 % in 2017, but the situation differs across Member States. Last year, eight Member States received recommendations under the European Semester framework to improve female participation in the labour market (Austria, Czechia, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Slovakia).
- Women are more at risk of poverty, with salaries on average 16% lower than for men. This translates in the pension gap, which stood at 35.7 % in 2017. In some countries, more than 10 % of older women cannot afford necessary health care.
- Women remain largely under-represented in Parliaments and government. Only 6 of the 28 national parliaments across the EU are led by a woman and seven out of ten members of national parliaments in the EU are men. While the current level of 30.5 % female senior Ministers is the highest since data were first available for all EU Member States in 2004, there is still evidence suggesting that women tend to be allocated portfolios considered to have lower political priority.
- The glass-ceiling remains a reality in the business world with only 6.3 % of CEO positions in major publicly listed companies in the EU held by women." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Cim, Merve & Anica Kramer (2018): Working women and labour market inequality. Research project for the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. Final report. (RWI-Projektbericht), Essen, 54 S.

Abstract

"Ziel des Projektes ist es, einen umfassenden Überblick über die geschlechtsspezifische (Un)gleichheit auf europäischen Arbeitsmärkten zu geben. In einer deskriptiven Analyse wird dabei zunächst die Arbeitsmarktsituation von Frauen für alle EU Mitgliedsstaaten dargestellt. In detaillierten Fallstudien werden Faktoren identifiziert, die mögliche Unterschiede zwischen den Ländern erklären können. Insbesondere wird analysiert, inwieweit Bildungssysteme, der Zugang zu Kinderbetreuung, Steuerpolitiken sowie kulturelle und historische Normen mit der Arbeitsmarktpartizipation und der Gleichstellung von Frauen und Männern korreliert sind. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen der Analysen werden mögliche Rückschlusse für die Wirtschaftspolitik gezogen sowie eine Reihe von ausgewählten Strategien abgeleitet, die auf EU- und einzelstaatlicher Ebene durchgeführt werden könnten." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Baldini, Massimo, Constanza Torricelli & Maria Cesira Urzì Brancati (2018): Family ties: Labor supply responses to cope with a household employment shock. In: Review of Economics of the Household, Jg. 16, H. 3, S. 809-832. DOI:10.1007/s11150-017-9375-z

Abstract

"We use data from the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) to explore labor responses of individuals (not only the spouse) to a negative employment shock suffered by another household member. We focus on Italy where family ties other than spousal ones are particularly strong and grown up children live in their parents' household till late, especially when they are students. Two main results emerge. First, we find strong and robust evidence that households hit by an employment shock do respond by increasing labor supply. Second, we document an added worker effect that is affecting not only wives, but also teenage children and students independently of their age, with important policy implications in terms of human capital formation. Results are robust across gender, household financial conditions and the crisis, yet they do not point to differential reactions along these dimensions." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Castellano, Rosalia & Antonella Rocca (2018): Gender disparities in European labour markets. A comparison between female and male employees. In: International Labour Review, Jg. 157, H. 4, S. 589-608. DOI:10.1111/ilr.12052

Abstract

"In recent decades, the dramatic increase in female labour force participation was connected to significant changes in the economic opportunities reserved to women. However, gender disparities in the labour market still persist in many forms.
In this study we want to verify if in the European labour markets higher gender differentials are directly connected with bad economic conditions. Starting from the GGLMI, a composite indicator designed and developed by the authors in a previous study, besides updating the results, we construct other three composite indicators analysing separately female and male conditions in the labour market and the gender gap." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Chan, Jeff (2018): Does import competition worsen the gender gap? Evidence from matched employer-employee data. In: Economics Letters, Jg. 165, H. April, S. 13-16. DOI:10.1016/j.econlet.2018.01.024

Abstract

"Using Italian matched employer-employee-data, I examine how accounting for unobserved worker or firm heterogeneity can impact estimates of import competition's impact on industry-level gender wage gaps, and how this can be driven by changes in the composition of female workers and firms within affected industries. First, in wage regressions, I find that import competition lowers women's wages relative to men, but only in specifications that include worker or firm fixed effects. Accounting for these sources of heterogeneity matters because: (1) women that earn low wages are more likely than men to change industries or leave the sample, and (2) firms that employ women are more likely to exit and shrink due to import competition. My findings illustrate how, using data or methods that do not account for worker and firm heterogeneity, researchers can conclude that import competition can improve gender equality, when in fact gender equality is worsened." (Author's abstract, © 2018 Elsevier) ((en))

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Chung, Heejung (2018): Dualization and the access to occupational family-friendly working-time arrangements across Europe. In: Social policy and administration, Jg. 52, H. 2, S. 491-507. DOI:10.1111/spol.12379

Abstract

"This article examines outsiders' relative access to occupational level family-friendly policies. I use data from the European Working Conditions Survey of 2015 across 30 European countries examining workers' access to two types of family-friendly working-time arrangements (WTAs): flexitime, and time off work for personal reasons. The article focuses on women with care responsibilities given that their demands for family-friendly policies, as well as their outcomes, have been shown to be distinct from the rest of the working population. In addition to the outsider definition used in the labor market dualization and occupational segmentation literature, i.e., low-skilled workers and those without a permanent contract, this article also defines outsiders as those perceiving their job as insecure. The results of the analysis show a segmentation between workers in their access to family-friendly policies. Unlike statutory policies, occupational policies seem to be selectively provided mostly to workers where employers have a vested interest, i.e., insiders, resulting in a dualized system for most countries. However, rather than their contract status, the skill-level of the job/workers, and their perceived insecurity were found to be important. The results further show that although Northern European and some continental European countries are those where family-friendly WTAs are more readily available, it is in these countries where the division between insiders and outsiders is the greatest. The results of the article contribute to the literature by showing a need to move beyond the national level when examining family-friendly policies, and to examine a more diverse definition of outsiders when examining dualization of working conditions." (Author's abstract, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Cuberes, David & Marc Teignier (2018): Macroeconomic costs of gender gaps in a model with entrepreneurship and household production. In: The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, Jg. 18, H. 1, S. 1-15. DOI:10.1515/bejm-2017-0031

Abstract

"This paper examines the quantitative effects of gender gaps in entrepreneurship and workforce participation in an occupational choice model with a household sector and endogenous female labor supply. Gender gaps in workforce participation have a direct negative effect on market, while gender gaps in entrepreneurship affect negatively market output not only by reducing wages and labor force participation but also by reducing the average talent of entrepreneurs and aggregate productivity. We estimate the effects of these gender gaps for 37 European countries, as well as the United States, and find that gender gaps cause an average loss of 17.5% in market output and 13.2% in total output, which also includes household output. Interestingly, the total output loss would be similar (12%) in a model without household sector, since the market output loss is larger when the female labor supply is endogenous. Eastern Europe is the region with the lowest income fall due to gender gaps, while Southern Europe is the region with the largest fall. Northern Europe is the region with the largest productivity fall, which is due to the presence of high gender gaps in entrepreneurship." (Author's abstract, © De Gruyter) ((en))

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Daly, Mary & Emanuele Ferragina (2018): Family policy in high-income countries: Five decades of development. In: Journal of European social policy, Jg. 28, H. 3, S. 255-270. DOI:10.1177/0958928717735060

Abstract

"This article empirically traces trends in family policy in 23 high-income countries since the 1960s. A range of data on income supports for families with children, family-related leave and early childhood education and care are brought together and analysed. The results show that family policy has developed by layering, in terms of both content and time period. A 'foundational phase' is characterised by investment in cash and tax allowances for families and employment leave for mothers, while a 'consolidation phase' sees states adding to their family policy portfolio, especially through the diversification of family-related leave and augmentation of child-related care services, increasing their overall family policy expenditure and continuing to support families financially but with a preference to direct this through the tax system. There is no inexorable development path though, either within or across countries. A layering development pattern suggests that analysis of family policy over time needs to be oriented to examining both continuity and change and, as the conclusion makes clear, there are many fruitful lines of further research." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Dilli, Selin & Gerarda Westerhuis (2018): How institutions and gender differences in education shape entrepreneurial activity. A cross-national perspective. In: Small business economics, Jg. 51, H. 2, S. 371-392. DOI:10.1007/s11187-018-0004-x

Abstract

"Previous studies offer evidence that human capital obtained through education is a crucial explanation for cross-national differences in entrepreneurial activity. Recently, scholar attention has focused on the importance of education in subjects such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for the promotion of entrepreneurial activity. To our knowledge, empirical evidence for this link is scarce, despite the emphasis made in the literature and by policy makers on the choice of study at the tertiary level. Given that differences in STEM education are particularly large between men and women, we utilize data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor for 19 European countries and the USA. We study the role of these differences in STEM education at the national level for three stages of the entrepreneurial process: entrepreneurial awareness, the choice of sector for entrepreneurial activity, and entrepreneurial growth aspirations. We also test whether the effects of gender differences in education is moderated by the nature of the institutional environment in which entrepreneurs operate. Our findings show that individual-level explanations including education account for the gender differences during all three stages of early-stage entrepreneurial activity. Moreover, countries with greater gender equality in science education are characterized by higher entrepreneurial activity in knowledge-intensive sectors and high-growth aspirations. Thus, next to individual-level education, closing the gender gap in science at the national level can benefit a country as a whole by stimulating innovative entrepreneurial activity." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Hübgen, Sabine (2018): 'Only a husband away from poverty'? Lone mothers' poverty risks in a European comparison. In: L. Bernardi & D. Mortelmans (Hrsg.) (2018): Lone parenthood in the life course (Life course research and social policies, 08), S. 167-189. DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-63295-7_8

Abstract

"Over the last 10 years at-risk-of-poverty rates across Europe have been rather stable or rising only slightly. However, certain demographic groups face comparatively high poverty risks. Lone mothers belong usually to the most affected groups by income poverty - but variations are striking. Though, still little research has been done for explaining this vast variation across Europe. It is argued that institutional arrangements in the labor market and the welfare state shaped by existing gender inequalities have an impact on lone mothers' poverty risks. For instance, in countries where women's access to (full time) paid work is low and/or the gender pay gap is high, lone mothers are particularly disadvantaged due to the absent (male) partner. Furthermore, the lack of public childcare and a gendered eligibility to social benefits aggravate lone mothers' poverty risk. I also hypothesize that gendered institutional arrangements mediate the effect of individual characteristics on lone mothers' poverty risks - namely the poverty-reducing effect of employment and the poverty-enhancing effect of children. To prove these hypotheses empirically, I compare 25 European countries running several multi-level models based on pooled EU-SILC data (2009 - 2012). Results show that existing gender inequalities - particularly the access to full time employment for women and gender-specific welfare eligibility - indeed account for country differences in the level of lone mothers' poverty risk. Furthermore, there is empirical evidence that gender inequalities in the labor market shape the poverty-reducing effect of full time employment. Other specific mechanisms modeled in form of cross-level interactions cannot be supported by the data." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Kaboth, Arthur & Martin Brussig (2018): Alterserwerbsbeteiligung in Europa auch in Zeiten der Finanz- und Wirtschaftskrise im Aufschwung? (Altersübergangs-Report / Institut Arbeit und Qualifikation (IAQ), Universität Duisburg-Essen 2018-01), Duisburg, 18 S. DOI:10.17185/duepublico/48256

Abstract

"In nahezu allen 28 Mitgliedsstaaten der Europäischen Union ist die Erwerbsbeteiligung Älterer von 2005 bis 2016 gestiegen. Trotz dieses praktisch universellen Trends, gibt es erhebliche Unterschiede innerhalb der EU. Die europäischen Beschäftigungsziele von 2010 wurden auch im Jahr 2016 teilweise nicht erreicht.
Große Unterschiede in der Alterserwerbsbeteiligung zeigen sich vor allem zwischen Männern und Frauen. In der Regel sind die Erwerbstätigenquoten der Männer höher als die der Frauen. Die stärkeren Zuwächse sind allerdings auf Seiten der Frauen zu beobachten.
Der Abstand der Erwerbstätigenquoten zwischen jüngeren und älteren Erwerbstätigen - die Alterslücke - wird kleiner. Auch dies ist in nahezu allen Ländern vorzufinden. Die Alterslücken von Männern und Frauen unterscheiden sich in den meisten Ländern der EU nicht wesentlich voneinander. Vor allem die stärkere Erwerbsintegration älterer Frauen lässt die Alterslücke kleiner werden.
Geringqualifizierte (Ältere) sind in den meisten europäischen Ländern benachteiligt, wenngleich in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß. Es zeigt sich eine starke Streuung innerhalb der EU bei dieser Personengruppe. Mit steigender Qualifikation sinkt hingegen die Alterslücke. Höhere Bildungsabschlüsse erhöhen die Erwerbschancen auch für Ältere.
Die Alterslücke ist nahezu überall in Europa gesunken, auch in Ländern mit langanhaltender rückläufiger wirtschaftlicher Entwicklung. Im Vergleich zu früheren Rezessionen ist die relativ stabile Alterserwerbsbeteiligung in Europa ein Novum, denn in der Vergangenheit wurden bei hoher Arbeitslosigkeit Ältere vielfach vom Arbeitsmarkt verdrängt." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Klammer, Ute (2018): Gender und Erwerbsverlauf im Licht der Beschäftigungs- und Sozialpolitikstrategien der EU. In: E. M. Hohnerlein, S. Hennion & O. Kaufmann (Hrsg.) (2018): Erwerbsverlauf und sozialer Schutz in Europa, S. 33-48. DOI:10.1007/978-3-662-56033-4_4

Abstract

"Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit den unterschiedlichen Erwerbsverläufen von Frauen und Männern vor dem Hintergrund des gesellschaftlichen Wandels und untersucht die Beschäftigungs- und Sozialpolitikstrategien der EU im Hinblick auf ihren möglichen Beitrag zur Gleichstellung der Geschlechter. Im Rahmen eines konzeptionellen Modells werden Einflussfaktoren auf geschlechtsspezifische Erwerbsmuster über den Lebensverlauf identifiziert und ihr Zusammenwirken beleuchtet. Im Zentrum steht anschließend die Analyse verschiedener beschäftigungs- und sozialpolitischer Initiativen der EU unter Gleichstellungsaspekten. Es wird deutlich, dass die EU zwar ein früher Impulsgeber und Wegbereiter für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter war, dass Geschlechter- und Gleichstellungsfragen aber im Laufe der Zeit - und verstärkt im Kontext der Finanzkrise - an Gewicht verloren bzw. eine stark ökonomisch motivierte Engführung mit dem Ziel einer möglichst umfassenden Erwerbsintegration von Frauen erfahren haben." (Verlagsangaben, IAB-Doku)

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Kümmerling, Angelika (2018): Geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede in den Arbeitszeiten. Fortschritt auf der einen, Stagnation auf der anderen Seite. (IAQ-Report 2018-08), Duisburg, 23 S. DOI:10.17185/duepublico/47961

Abstract

"Zwischen 2010 und 2016 sind die durchschnittlichen Arbeitszeiten in Deutschland stabil geblieben. Im Mittel arbeiteten abhängig Beschäftigte 2016 35,2 Stunden in der Woche. Von einem unterschiedlichen Niveau ausgehend, haben sich die Arbeitszeiten von Männern seit 2010 leicht verringert, während Frauen heute länger arbeiten. Als Folge davon hat sich der Gender Time Gap (von 9,3 Std. auf 8,7 Std.) deutlich reduziert. Grund hierfür ist ein Trend zu längerer Teilzeit bei den Frauen, insbesondere bei Müttern. Frauen und Männer und vor allem Mütter und Väter haben weiterhin grundsätzlich andere Arbeitszeitrealitäten. Teilzeit hat sich dabei als die Arbeitszeitform von Müttern weiter manifestiert. Im EU-Vergleich sind die Arbeitszeiten von Frauen in Deutschland die zweitkürzesten. Nur in den Niederlanden arbeiten Frauen weniger Stunden in der Woche. Mütter in Deutschland sind im EU-Vergleich deutlich schlechter in den Arbeitsmarkt eingebunden als Frauen ohne Kinder. Kinder zu haben stellt also einen Risikofaktor für die Erwerbstätigkeit und finanzielle Absicherung von Frauen dar. Das Ehegattensplitting steht im Widerspruch zu familienpolitischen Maßnahmen wie KiTa-Ausbau und Elterngeld und erweist sich als Hemmschuh für eine gleichberechtigte Arbeitsteilung von Frauen und Männern." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Lurie, Lilach (2018): Unions and unequal pay. The establishment of the "family wage". In: International Labour Review, Jg. 157, H. 1, S. 153-167. DOI:10.1111/ilr.12015

Abstract

"Equal pay laws in many OECD countries establish the right of men and women to equal pay for work of equal value. Nevertheless, during the first half of the 20th century, before the enactment of equal pay laws, employers and unions in several countries promoted unequal pay through 'family wage' arrangements. This article seeks to improve understanding of the historical and sociological origins of 'family wage' arrangements through both comparative research and in-depth historical archival research on family wage arrangements in Israel. It shows that unions played a complex role in promoting family wage arrangements. While their action refected their patriarchal understanding of society, they were also guided by socialist principles." (Author's abstract, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Pereira, João & Aurora Galego (2018): Inter-country wage differences in the European Union. In: International Labour Review, Jg. 157, H. 1, S. 101-128. DOI:10.1111/ilr.12014

Abstract

"This article investigates the determinants of wage gaps between European Union countries along the wage distribution, applying the methodology proposed by Firpo, Fortin and Lemieux (2009) and Fortin, Lemieux and Firpo (2011). The authors conclude that both wage structure and composition effects contribute to explaining wage differentials, but that the wage structure effect is more important. This latter effect would appear to derive from differences between unknown factors, while the composition effect can largely be explained by differences in the following areas: education, proportion of workers with supervisory responsibilities, occupational structure, and, to a lesser extent, industrial structure." (Author's abstract, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Pollmann-Schult, Matthias (2018): Parenthood and Life Satisfaction in Europe : The Role of Family Policies and Working Time Flexibility. In: European Journal of Population, Jg. 34, H. 3, S. 387-411. DOI:10.1007/s10680-017-9433-5

Abstract

"The life satisfaction of parents residing with dependent children varies greatly between countries. This article examines how country-level characteristics -- the provision of family allowances and formal child care, and the level of working time flexibility -- account for these cross-national differences, using data from the European Social Survey from 2004 and 2010 for 27 countries. Parents report greater life satisfaction in countries that offer generous financial benefits to families, high child care provision, and high working time flexibility than parents residing in counties with low levels of support. Results also show that these national contextual factors are associated with lower levels of financial strain and work - life conflicts among parents. These findings suggest that the mitigating effect of family benefits, child care provision, and working time flexibility on the psychosocial and financial burdens of parenthood is a key mechanism in the association between national contextual factors and parental life satisfaction." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Sparreboom, Theo (2018): Occupational segregation by hours of work in Europe. In: International Labour Review, Jg. 157, H. 1, S. 65-82. DOI:10.1111/ilr.12017

Abstract

"This paper quantifies levels of occupational segregation between full-time and part-time work and attempts to identify some of the determinants of this segregation. In the first part of the analysis, segregation between full-time and part-time work is measured for all workers as well as within sub-groups of the employed - men, women, youth and adults for 15 European countries, using data from the European Labour Force Survey. The extent to which segregation is driven by constituent sub-groups is also analysed. It is demonstrated that occupational segregation by hours of work is generally higher for males than for females, suggesting that part-time pay penalties may be more important for men than for women, and higher for young workers than for adult workers.
The remainder of the paper uses regression analysis across countries to identify factors which drive segregation by hours of work. Three groups of variables are considered that are related to (1) the quantity of work; (2) the quality of work; and (3) institutional factors. It is found that segregation by hours of work for sub-groups of the employed is driven by different factors. In particular, segregation for men is correlated with the volume of work, while variables from all three groups are important for adult women and young workers." (Author's abstract, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Töpfer, Marina (2018): The age pay gap and labor market heterogeneity. A new empirical approach using data for Italy. (Universität Erlangen, Nürnberg, Lehrstuhl für Arbeitsmarkt- und Regionalpolitik. Diskussionspapiere 105), Erlangen, 25 S.

Abstract

"Dieser Beitrag untersucht das Lohndifferenzial zwischenälteren (55-64) und erwachsenen (34-54) Arbeitsmarktteilnehmern entlang der Lohnverteilung anhand italienischer Mikrodaten 2005-2016. Die Lohngleichung basiert auf einem 'three-way fixed effects' Modell. Der Beitrag betrachtet die um (beobachtbare und nicht-beobachtbare) Arbeitsmarktheterogenität korrigierte Lohnlücke. Das Lohndifferenzial wird mit OLS und unbedingter Quantilsregression geschätzt. Die drei fixen Effekte (individuell, job- und industriespezifisch) werden mit Hilfe einer Partitionierungsmethode geschätzt. Die Analyse entlang der Lohnverteilung zeigt substanzielle Unterschiede in dem Lohndifferenzial an verschiedenen Quantilen. Dabei ist die Lohnlücke am oberen Ende der Lohnverteilung besonders ausgeprägt. Der Beitrag zeigt, dass individuelle Heterogenität der Hauptverursacher der Lohnlücke ist und die korrigierte Lohnlücke gegen Null geht." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Wilkens, Mathijn, Jorge Cabrita, Jean-Marie Jungblut & Robert Anderson (2018): Striking a balance: Reconciling work and life in the EU. Working conditions. (Eurofound research report / European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions), Dublin, IV, 70 S. DOI:10.2806/560184

Abstract

"How to combine work with life is a fundamental issue for many people, an issue that policymakers, social partners, businesses and individuals are seeking to resolve. Simultaneously, new challenges and solutions are transforming the interface between work and life: an ageing population, technological change, higher employment rates and fewer weekly working hours. This report aims to examine the reciprocal relationship between work and life for people in the EU, the circumstances in which they struggle to reconcile the two domains, and what is most important for them in terms of their work - life balance. The report draws on a range of data sources, in particular the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) and the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS)." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Wuiame, Nathalie, herausgegeben von T. Johnson (Hrsg.) Europäische Kommission. Generaldirektion Beschäftigung, Soziales und Integration (2018): Female (un)employment and work-life balance. A discussion paper from the Employment Thematic Network. (ESF technical dossier 08), Brüssel, 37 S. DOI:10.2767/022588

Abstract

"The objective of this paper is to give an updated overview of the different situations of men and women in the labour market. It examines what the contribution of the Structural and Investment Funds - and especially the ESF - can be, in terms of both female employment and work life balance initiatives. The report concludes with some recommendations on how current and future European funds can better support female employment and gender equality through fighting gender stereotypes and gender segregation, changing the prevalent working culture, providing high-quality and affordable care solutions, and supporting women in specific situations such as victims of domestic violence." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Europäische Kommission. Generaldirektion Justiz und Verbraucher (2018): Report on equality between women and men in the EU 2018. (Report on equality between women and men), Brüssel, 70 S. DOI:10.2838/168837

Abstract

"The Commission is marking International Women's Day with the release of its 2018 report on equality between men and women, as well as a presentation of a report on women in tech. We are not there yet.
The Commission has acted to trigger change. It put forward a proposal to improve the work-life balance of working families, an Action plan to tackle the gender pay gap and called to put an end to violence against women through funding and awareness-raising actions.
The 2018 gender equality report shows that progress has stalled in certain areas: women still take on the majority of caring responsibilities in families, the gender pay gap has stagnated at 16% for years and violence against women remains a problem." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Abstract

"Gender segregation is a deeply entrenched feature of education systems and occupations across the EU. It refers to the concentration of one gender in certain fields of education or occupations (horizontal segregation) or the concentration of one gender in certain grades, levels of responsibility or positions (vertical segregation). Gender segregation narrows life choices, education and employment options, leads to unequal pay, further reinforces gender stereotypes and limits access to certain jobs while also perpetuating unequal gender power relations in the public and private spheres.
Following the request of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU (2017), the present report explores the progress made between 2004 and 2015 in breaking gender segregation in education, training and the labour market in the EU. The report draws on a number of varied data sources, including Unesco-OECD-Eurostat (UOE), the European Labour Force Survey (LFS), Eurofound's European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) and the European Skills and Jobs Survey (ESJS) of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Albrecht, Clara, Anita Fichtl & Peter Redler (2017): Fathers in charge? Parental leave policies for fathers in Europe. In: ifo DICE report, Jg. 15, H. 1, S. 49-51.

Abstract

"Despite the fact that most parental leave policies in European countries have also entitled men, take-up rates by fathers have been low. In turn, the traditional male breadwinner model has prevailed in the EU, even though the level of education of men and women has converged fully. At the same time, fathers do want to spend time with their newborn children (Huerta et al. 2013). A trend towards the implementation of parental leave policies for fathers - also known as 'daddy months' or 'daddy quotas' - has emerged. The potential goals of these policies are greater gender equality, both in the family and in the labour market, a better work-life-balance for families and stronger bonding between father and child. Encouraged by state regulations and the EU-Directive 2010/18/EU2 parental leave take-up rates have been rising over the past decade, but still remain low." (Text excerpt, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Auth, Diana, Jutta Hergenhan & Barbara Holland-Cunz (Hrsg.) (2017): Gender and family in European economic policy. Developments in the new millennium. Cham: Springer Palgrave Macmillan, 267 S. DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-41513-0

Abstract

"This collection explores how pioneering gender equality policies have shaped women's economic presence in Europe since 2000. Equal pay policies, parental leave reforms, corporate quotas and electoral quotas have raised pressing questions about the effectiveness in promoting equal participation, as researchers quote both quantitative improvement in gender diversity and qualitative lag in cultural change. The chapters in this book present interlocking cross-national and cross-policy comparisons of the three most controversial reforms: equal pay, parental leave, and quotas for political representatives. The contributors address the cultural context in which reforms arose, internally contradictory policies, and the relative effectiveness of fast-track quotas and incentives compared to long-term efforts to change the overall culture of gender. This critical examination of the new millennium's groundbreaking gender policies will appeal to academics and practitioners interested in the progress of gender equality in the economic, political, and social welfare fields." (Publisher information, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bick, Alexander & Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln (2017): Quantifying the Disincentive Effects of Joint Taxation on Married Women's Labor Supply. In: The American economic review, Jg. 107, H. 5, S. 100-104. DOI:10.1257/aer.p20171063

Abstract

"We quantify the disincentive effects of elements of joint taxation in the labor income tax codes of 17 European countries and the US. We analyze the extent to which hours worked of married men and women would change if each country switched to a system of separate taxation of married couples. In this hypothetical tax reform, we keep the average tax burden of married households constant. With the exception of four countries featuring already a system of separate taxation, the model predicts that married women's hours worked increase on average by 115 hours, or 10.5 percent, through this reform." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bisello, Martina & Massimiliano Mascherini (2017): The gender employment gap. Costs and policy responses. In: Intereconomics, Jg. 52, H. 1, S. 24-27. DOI:10.1007/s10272-017-0638-y

Abstract

"This paper will firstly investigate the economic and the social costs associated with the observed gender employment gap. It will then discuss key aspects of the needed policy responses to foster and promote labour market participation among women." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Bičáková, Alena (2017): A note on selection and gender unemployment gaps. In: Journal of labor research, Jg. 38, H. 4, S. 428-438. DOI:10.1007/s12122-017-9257-4

Abstract

"Previous research has documented the impact of positive selection into employment on the ranking of countries by gender wage gaps. This note focuses on the impact of selection into labor force on cross-country differences in gender unemployment gaps. We construct the Manski bounds for the selection-free gender unemployment gaps in 26 EU countries and show that - without additional assumptions - the observed gender unemployment gaps carry little information about the selection-free gender differences in unemployment. Contrary to the common assumption of positive selection into labor force (similar to positive selection into employment documented in the gender wage gap research), we also point at an example of negative-selection bias. We show that labor force withdrawal of mothers on job-protected family leaves may lead to an overestimation of the selection-free gender unemployment gaps by as much as 1 p.p." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Boll, Christina, Anja Rossen & André Wolf (2017): The EU gender earnings gap. Job segregation and working time as driving factors. In: Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik, Jg. 237, H. 5, S. 407-452., 2017-09-16. DOI:10.1515/jbnst-2017-0100

Abstract

"In diesem Papier analysieren wir den Umfang und die Determinanten des geschlechtsspezifischen Lohngefälles in Europa. Hierzu aktualisieren wir die bestehenden Ergebnisse in der Literatur anhand des Structure of Earnings Survey 2010 (SES). Auf Basis eines umfassenden Ländervergleichs (21 EU-Länder plus Norwegen) untersuchen wir die Determinanten der erklärten und unerklärten Lohnlücke mit Hilfe der Oaxaca-Blinder-Zerlegung. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass etwa ein Drittel der Lücke auf den Einfluss der verwendeten Variablen zurückzuführen ist. Humankapitalbezogene Faktoren sind eher von untergeordneter Bedeutung. Vielmehr wird die sektorale Segregation der Geschlechter als das wichtigste Hindernis für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter bei den Löhnen identifiziert. Darüber hinaus trägt die Tatsache, dass Frauen häufiger Teilzeitstellen bekleiden, signifikant zur Lücke bei. Zudem erzielen Frauen niedrigere Sektorprämien als Männer, was auf eine weniger vorteilhafte Jobpositionierung von Frauen innerhalb von Branchen und Firmen hinweisen könnte. Wir schließen daraus, dass Strategien zur Schließung der Lohnlücke zwischen den Geschlechtern die Branchenebene stärker in den Blick nehmen sollten." (Autorenreferat, © De Gruyter)

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Castellano, Rosalia & Rocca Antonella (2017): The dynamic of the gender gap in the European labour market in the years of economic crisis. In: Quality and Quantity. International Journal of Methodology, Jg. 51, H. 3, S. 1337-1357. DOI:10.1007/s11135-016-0334-1

Abstract

"Closing the gender gap in the labour market is one of the main goals of European Union and part of a wider effort to eliminate social inequalities. In recent decades, all developed countries have suffered a deep global economic crisis, that has increased social and economic inequalities. In Europe, the crisis involved problems of European stability and growth, but the crisis did not affect the euro-area countries to the same extent, and the consequences and recovery were correspondingly asymmetrical. In this paper, we analyse the changes that occurred in the gender gap in the European labour markets from 2007 to 2012 to understand if the recession has further increased or reduced the gender differentials. At this aim, we combine the use of two different statistical methodologies. Through the composite indicator methodology, we test how the rank of countries in relation to gender equality has changed in these years. In addition, the Dynamic Factor Analysis allows us to identify the factors that drive these changes. Moreover, the contextual analysis of the measures that were utilized to face the crisis could give policy makers some useful suggestions on the most efficacious actions to take." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Christiansen, Lone, Huidan Lin, Joana Pereira, Petia Topalova & Rima Turk (2017): Unlocking the potential of greater female employment in Europe. In: Intereconomics, Jg. 52, H. 1, S. 5-16. DOI:10.1007/s10272-017-0636-0

Abstract

"This paper investigates the drivers of female labour force participation in Europe, as well as the implications of achieving greater gender diversity in senior corporate positions. Re-examining the drivers of women's decisions to work is particularly important in the context of Europe. In many European countries, the process of closing gender gaps in labour force participation has stalled, despite greater gender equality in human capital investment, declining birth rates, changing social norms and equal legal access to employment opportunities." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Gehringer, Agnieszka & Stephan Klasen (2017): Labor force participation of women in the EU - what role do family policies play? In: Labour, Jg. 31, H. 1, S. 15-42. DOI:10.1111/labr.12085

Abstract

"We empirically study the role of different family policies in affecting women's labor market behavior in the European Union. Women tend to assume more family duties than men and, consequently, often participate less in the labor market. Family policies aim to support families in general while a particular focus is on helping women to reconcile family duties with labor market participation. Their impact, however, is not clear, especially when it comes to different forms of labor market activity. We use a static and dynamic panel econometric framework examining the link between financial support for four types of family policies and labor force participation as well as (part-time and full-time) employment. The results suggest no stable significant impact of expenditures on family policies on overall labor force participation. However, higher spending on family allowance, cash benefits, and daycare benefits appears to promote part-time employment, whereas only spending on parental leave schemes is a significant positive determinant of women's full-time employment." (Author's abstract, Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons) ((en))

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Ollo-López, Andrea & Salomé Goni-Legaz (2017): Differences in work - family conflict. Which individual and national factors explain them? In: The international journal of human resource management, Jg. 28, H. 3, S. 499-525. DOI:10.1080/09585192.2015.1118141

Abstract

"This paper contributes to cross-cultural literature on work - family relationships by testing not only hypotheses about the impact of work and family demands and gender at individual level on work - family conflict (WFC), but also at country level. Concretely, several theories commonly used in the literature (role conflict, boundary management and social support theory) are used to analyzed how national culture dimensions affects WFC. Using information about employee residents in each of the countries interviewed in the Second European Quality of Life Survey and also GLOBE dimensions of national culture, the paper shows that the relationship between work and family demands and WFC is universal and equal phenomenon throughout Europe. In line with gender role theory, demanding and stressing work have stronger effects on women's WFC than on men's. While opposite to it, household hours also have stronger effect on women's WFC than on men's. Moreover, the paper shows that national culture affects how people perceive work - family relationships. In line with integration/segmentation hypotheses derived from boundary management theory, uncertainty avoidance decreases WFC. Moreover, in line with social support, human orientation decreases the level of WFC, especially for men. Eastern Europe and Mediterranean countries have higher levels of WFC, while Scandinavian countries are those that have lower levels of WFC." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Schleutker, Elina (2017): Women's work-life preferences. Reconceptualization and cross-country description over time. In: European Societies, Jg. 19, H. 3, S. 292-312. DOI:10.1080/14616696.2017.1290266

Abstract

"According to Hakim's preference theory, women can be divided into three groups based on their work - family preferences: home-centered, adaptive and work-centered. Here it is argued that Hakim's conceptualization of the adaptive women is unsatisfactory, as it does not take into consideration how the adaptive women want to combine work and family. The paper offers a reconceptualization of the adaptive group. Based on when women want to return to employment after childbirth, and how many hours they would like to work, three types of adaptive women are distinguished: the home-oriented adaptive women, the truly adaptive women and the work-oriented adaptive women. To demonstrate the fruitfulness of the reconceptualization, a cross-sectional descriptive study of women's preferences over time is conducted by employing data from International Social Survey Programme." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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International Labour Office (2017): World employment and social outlook. Trends for women 2017. (World employment and social outlook. Trends), Genf, 63 S.

Abstract

"This report examines the global and regional labour market trends and gaps, including in labour force participation rates, unemployment rates, employment status as well as sectoral and occupational segregation. It also presents a global in-depth analysis of the key drivers of female labour force participation by investigating the personal preferences of women and the societal gender norms and socio-economic constraints that women face.
A key finding of this report is that closing these labour market gaps would yield significant economic benefits in terms of GDP growth while at the same time improving individual welfare in multiple dimensions. However, the report finds that there are significant socio-economic and gender norm constraints influencing a woman's decision to participate. Accordingly, the report introduces a comprehensive framework to address the drivers of these gender gaps and outlines a series of policy recommendations to improve the labour market outcomes of women." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Abstract

"Die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter zählt zu den Grundwerten der Europäischen Union, doch im Arbeitsleben ist sie noch nicht verwirklicht. In der gesamten Wirtschaft verdienen Frauen in der EU im Durchschnitt über 16 % weniger pro Stunde als Männer. Der Aktionsplan umfasst acht Aktionsschwerpunkte:
1- Die Anwendung des Grundsatzes der Entgeltgleichheit verbessern
2- Die Segregation nach Berufen und Wirtschaftszweigen bekämpfen
3- Die gläserne Decke durchbrechen: Initiativen zur Bekämpfung der vertikalen Segregation
4- Die betreuungsbedingte Benachteiligung beseitigen
5- Größere Wertschätzung für die Kompetenzen, Belastung und Verantwortung von Frauen
6- Den Schleier lüften: Ungleichheiten und Stereotype aufdecken
7- Über das geschlechtsspezifische Lohngefälle aufklären und informieren
8- Partnerschaften zur Bekämpfung des geschlechtsspezifischen Lohngefälles fördern." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Altintas, Evrim & Oriel Sullivan (2016): Fifty years of change updated. Cross-national gender convergence in housework. In: Demographic Research, Jg. 35, S. 455-470. DOI:10.4054/DemRes.2016.35.16

Abstract

"Background: Gendered trends in housework provide an important insight into changing gender inequality. In particular, they shed light on the debate over the stalling of the 'gender revolution'. Additionally, the gender division of housework is significantly related to couple well-being; disagreements over housework are among the major sources of marital conflict.
Objective: The objective is to bring the evidence on gendered trends in time spent on core housework up to date, and to investigate cross-national variation in those trends.
Methods: Using 66 time use surveys from 19 countries, we apply a random-intercept, random-slope model to investigate half a century of change in gender differences in housework (1961-2011).
Results: There is a general movement in the direction of greater gender equality, but with significant country differences in both the level and the pace of convergence. Specifically, there was a slowing of gender convergence from the late 1980s in those countries where men and women's time in housework was already more equal, with steeper gender convergence continuing in those countries where the gender division of housework was less equal.
Conclusions: Our findings support the view that despite short-term stalls, slow-downs, and even reverses, as well as important differences in national policy contexts, the overall cross-national picture shows a continuing trend towards greater gender equality in the performance of housework.
Contribution: We update cross-national time use evidence on the gender division of housework to the end of the first decade of the 21st Century. In a multilevel framework, we show how the gender gap varies across time and between countries, net of other demographic variables." (Author's abstract, © Max-Planck-Institut für demographische Forschung) ((en))

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Baranowska-Rataj, Anna & Anna Matysiak (2016): The causal effects of the number of children on female employment. Do European institutional and gender conditions matter? In: Journal of labor research, Jg. 37, H. 3, S. 343-367. DOI:10.1007/s12122-016-9231-6

Abstract

"This paper contributes to the discussion on the effects of the number of children on female employment in Europe. Most previous research has either (1) compared these effects across countries, assuming an exogeneity of family size; or (2) used methods that dealt with endogeneity of family size, but that focused on single countries. We combine these two approaches by taking a cross-country comparative perspective and applying quasi-experimental methods. We use instrumental variable models, with multiple births as instruments, and the harmonized data from the European Survey on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC). We examine the cross-country variation in the effects of family size on maternal employment across groups of European countries with different welfare state regimes. This step gives us an opportunity to investigate whether the revealed crosscountry differences in the magnitude of the effect of the family size on maternal employment can be attributed to the diversity of European institutional arrangements, as well as the cultural and the structural conditions for combining work and family duties." (Author's abstract, © Springer-Verlag) ((en))

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Bičáková, Alena (2016): Gender unemployment gaps in the EU. Blame the family. In: IZA journal of European Labor Studies, Jg. 5, S. 1-31. DOI:10.1186/s40174-016-0072-3

Abstract

"There are considerable differences in gender unemployment gaps across the EU. We use labor force survey data on 21 countries to perform a series of data decompositions and show that the cross-country variation in gender unemployment gaps is primarily driven by the differences in female labor force participation behavior after childbirth, namely, the family leave duration and the subsequent attachment of women to the labor force. Further, in countries where a high share of women permanently withdraw from the labor force after childbirth, the size of gender differences in unemployment strongly correlates with the Eurobarometer measure of perceived overall gender discrimination. Our findings suggest that family leave policies and institutions that facilitate the leave to work transition and the work-family balance are crucial to tackle the gender differences in unemployment in countries where the female unemployment rate exceeds that of men." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Boll, Christina, Anja Rossen & André Wolf (2016): The EU gender earnings gap. Job segregation and working time as driving factors. (IAB-Discussion Paper 36/2016), Nürnberg, 28 S.

Abstract

"In diesem Papier analysieren wir den Umfang und die Determinanten des geschlechtsspezifischen Lohngefälles in Europa. Hierzu aktualisieren wir die bestehenden Ergebnisse in der Literatur anhand des Structure of Earnings Survey 2010 (SES). Auf Basis eines umfassenden Ländervergleichs (21 EU-Länder plus Norwegen) untersuchen wir die Determinanten der erklärten und unerklärten Lohnlücke mit Hilfe der Oaxaca-Blinder-Zerlegung. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass etwa ein Drittel der Lücke auf den Einfluss der verwendeten Variablen zurückzuführen ist. Die sektorale Segregation der Geschlechter wird als das wichtigste Hindernis für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter bei den Löhnen identifiziert. Darüber hinaus trägt die Tatsache, dass Frauen häufiger Teilzeitstellen bekleiden, signifikant zur Lücke bei. Wir schließen daraus, dass Strategien zur Schließung der Lohnlücke zwischen den Geschlechtern die Branchenebene stärker in den Blick nehmen sollten." (Autorenreferat, IAB-Doku)

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Boll, Christina, Julian Leppin, Anja Rossen & Andrè-Renè Wolf (2016): Magnitude and impact factors of the gender pay gap in EU countries. Brüssel, 147 S. DOI:10.2838/273601

Abstract

"This study undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the sources of wage differences between male and female workers in Europe. Its main purpose is to shed light on the interplay of so far neglected explanatory factors as well as to reveal country differences in the roles of these factors. One specific point of interest concerns the impact of gender differences in the incidence of overeducation. For this reason, the study also examines, in an introductory module, the determinants of overeducation in Europe. In this way, we make contributions to two different, highly debated subfields in labour economics: the overeducation and the gender pay gap literature. In both fields, the innovative features of the study are the large number of determinants as well as the large number of countries simultaneously analysed. The study is divided into three modules, which build on each other." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Boll, Christina, Anja Rossen & André Wolf (2016): The EU gender earnings gap. Job segregation and working time as driving factors. (HWWI research paper 176), Hamburg, 25 S.

Abstract

"This paper estimates size and impact factors of the gender pay gap in Europe. It adds to the literature in three aspects. First, we update existing figures on the gender pay gaps in the EU based on the Structure of Earnings Survey 2010 (SES). Second, we enrich the literature by undertaking comprehensive country comparisons of the gap components based on an Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition. Overall, we analyze 21 EU countries plus Norway, which clearly exceeds the scope of existing microdata studies. Third, we examine the sources of the unexplained gap. We find that about one third of the gap can be traced back to the role of the explanatory factors included in our analysis. The sectoral segregation of genders is identified as the most important barrier to gender pay equality in European countries. In addition, the fact that part-time positions are more frequent among women notably contributes to the gap. We conclude that policies aiming at closing the gender pay gap should focus more on the sector level than on the aggregate economy." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Breidahl, Karen N. & Christian Albrekt Larsen (2016): The myth of unadaptable gender roles. Attitudes towards women's paid work among immigrants across 30 European countries. In: Journal of European social policy, Jg. 26, H. 5, S. 387-401. DOI:10.1177/0958928716664292

Abstract

"It is a predominant assumption in contemporary political and academic debates that gender roles and attitudes supporting women's paid work among immigrants are deep-rooted and stable over time. However, the actual work - family orientations among immigrants are rarely studied. The purpose of this article is to study to what extent and at what pace immigrants in general adapt to the attitudes towards women's paid work that prevail in the host countries. A cross-national research strategy is applied using the European Social Survey rounds 2 (2004), 4 (2008) and 5 (2010), allowing us to compare and analyse attitudes towards women's paid work among 13,535 foreign-born individuals resident in 30 European countries. The results indicate that immigrants' attitudes towards women's paid work are highly structured by the institutional and cultural context of the host country. Both male and female immigrants, as well as immigrants with and without children, adapt to host country attitudes at a high pace." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

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Bünning, Mareike & Matthias Pollmann-Schult (2016): Parenthood, child care, and nonstandard work schedules in Europe. In: European Societies, Jg. 18, H. 4, S. 295-314. DOI:10.1080/14616696.2016.1153698

Abstract

"An increasing proportion of the European labor force works in the evening, at night or on weekends. Because nonstandard work schedules are associated with a number of negative outcomes for families and children, parents may seek to avoid such schedules. However, for parents with insufficient access to formal child care, working nonstandard hours or days may be an adaptive strategy used to manage child-care needs. It enables 'split-shift' parenting, where parents work alternate schedules, allowing one of the two to be at home looking after the children. This study examines the prevalence of nonstandard work schedules among parents and nonparents in 22 European countries. Specifically, we ask whether the provision of formal child care influences the extent to which parents of preschool-aged children work nonstandard schedules. Using data from the European Social Survey and multilevel models, we find evidence that the availability of formal child care reduces nonstandard work among parents. This indicates that access to formal child care enables parents to work standard schedules. To the extent that nonstandard work schedules are negatively associated with child wellbeing, access to formal child care protects children from the adverse effects of their parents' evening and night work." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))