The effect of higher education on the gender wage gap. (1st January 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Livanos, Ilias; Núñez, Imanol
• Is Part Of: International journal of education economics and development. Volume 3:Number 1(2012)
• Page Start: 33
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2012-01-01
• Subjects: discrimination -- graduates -- gender -- JEL: J20, J21; Education -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; 338.473705
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1759-5673

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the effect of an academic degree on the gender wage gap, examining the cases of Greece and the UK. Using Labour Force Survey (LFS) micro-data, we first compare the returns to higher education for each gender separately, we then decompose the gender wage gap between graduates and individuals with secondary education only, and finally we analyse the effect of higher education on the (un)explained part of the wage gap. For that purpose, an extension of the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique is used. We find that the unexplained part, which is often related to discrimination is lower for graduates in both countries.