Abstract

We investigate the gender gap in commuting by differentiating between the place of residence and work in urban and rural regions. Using administrative geo-referenced data for Germany, we provide evidence for a triple gap in commuting to the disadvantage of women. The regional disaggregation of the overall gap uncovers two additional gaps that open up between rural and urban commuters on the one hand and between intra- and inter-regional commuters on the other hand. Explaining the gaps with decomposition techniques, occupational segregation and establishment size turn out to be the most relevant factors.