This website uses cookies.

By clicking the "Accept" button or continuing to browse our site, you agree to first-party and session-only cookies being stored on your device to enhance site navigation and analyze site performance and traffic. For more information on our use of cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.

  1. Home
  2. Journals
  3. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
  4. Forthcoming Articles
  5. The Long-Run Effects of Peer Gender On Occupational Sorting and the Wage Gap

American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy

ISSN 1945-7731 (Print) | ISSN 1945-774X (Online)

The Long-Run Effects of Peer Gender On Occupational Sorting and the Wage Gap

  • Demid Getik
  • Armando N. Meier
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy (Forthcoming)

Abstract

We study the impact of the early gender environment on inequality in the labor market. To this end, we link primary school data to occupations and earnings. We find that women exposed to more girls at critical ages earn more later on: A 10% increase in the share of girls leads to a reduction in the gender wage gap of 2.7%. We explore mechanisms and find a strong selection of women into less gender-stereotypical educational tracks and occupations, leading to higher earnings. The gender environment at an early age, therefore, leads to persistent changes in career trajectories and earnings.

Downloads