What about the men, though? Relative wage opportunities and the persistence of employment gaps in couples

Abstract

"Gender gaps in employment have narrowed but remain substantial, particularly among couples. To estimate how improved female wage opportunities influence partners’ employment choices, I exploit demand-driven wage changes in job tasks and German administrative data. Results indicate women respond positively, albeit at a diminishing rate, to relative wage improvements, while male partners also increase their labor supply in response. Consequently, the work hours gap within couples narrows, but doesn’t close and even widens in certain groups. Potential explanations for these patterns building on Becker’s household model include comparative advantages for women, and relative income preferences and gender identity norms for men." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Hammer, L. (2025): What about the men, though? Relative wage opportunities and the persistence of employment gaps in couples. (IAB-Discussion Paper 01/2025), Nürnberg, 63 p. DOI:10.48720/IAB.DP.2501