Abstract

Nobel price winner G. Akerlof explains the persistence of female wage discrimination based on social identity theory. Male must be compensated if their identity is hurt by collaboration with female in the workplace. We test this hypothesis empirically. According to Akerlof's view, male-female wage differentials should increase if occupational segregation decreases within establishments because male are the more frequently urged to collaborate with their female colleagues. First evidence is against Akerlof's view.