Rigidity is setting in that obscures reasonable discussion of the imperfections of a free market where women's wages are concerned, and increases the likelihood that comparable worth, if implemented, might substitute one set of arbitrary job evaluations for another. (MLW)

Examines the following possible sources of measurement error in pay analysis and proposes methods to alleviate the problems: (1) choice of the number and type of job factors; (2) method of assigning values to each job factor; (3) method of selecting factor weights; and (4) political modifications made when a plan is implemented. (JS)

Despite the great influx of women into the labor market, the gap between men's and women's wages has remained stable at 40 percent since 1950. Analysis of labor data suggests that this has occurred because women's educational attainment compared to men has declined. Recently, however, the wage gap has begun to narrow, and this will probably become…

Economic discrimination in labor markets, different pay for workers of the same ability, is analyzed in several statistical models using data for black/white and male/female earnings. The conclusion is that statistical theories are unlikely to explain labor market discrimination. (MF)

The papers in this book were prepared for research workshops on equal employment opportunity that were held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during 1974. Economists, psychologists and sociologists were invited to assess the scope of research to date on employment discrimination. Their paper topics include: (1) economic theories of…

This study is a cross-section regression analysis of male-female wage differentials in urban labor markets. Data for the study were obtained from the 1967 Survey of Economic Opportunity. A prime objective of this dissertation is to determine how much of the observed male-female wage differential can be attributed to the effects of discrimination…

The earnings gap is the difference between the percentage ratio of women's earnings to those of men and 100 percent. In 1988, the earnings gap for hourly earnings was 26 percent; for weekly earnings, 30 percent; and for annual earnings, 34 percent. Although the direction over the past decade is toward greater equality, the pace is extremely slow.…

Discusses reasons for the differences in earnings between men and women: (1) differences in the labor market characteristics between men and women, (2) differences in the distribution of men and women among different jobs, and (3) discrimination in the labor market. (JOW)

Examines the relative pay of women in the academic labor market between 1965 and 1985, analyzing national survey data, information from institutions, and published research. Although women's relative pay has improved since the late 1960s, women's salaries still fall short of men's salaries. Sex discrimination seems to have had little effect on…

Analysis of data from 200 occupations 1970-90 shows that one-third of all workers in Finland, Norway, and Sweden would have to change occupations to eliminate gender segregation. Despite Nordic nations' commitment to equality, women often work in female-dominated or part-time occupations and typically earn less. (SK)

Differences in levels and determinants of earnings for men and women college graduates are examined. Perspectives from human capital theory, research on the socioeconomic achievement process, and research on segmented labor markets are used to design models of the determination of earnings. Data are taken from the National Opinion Research Center…

Two issues currently before Congress may have significant effects on the labor market experiences of retirement age individuals. These issues are the abolition of the mandatory retirement age and the elimination of the Social Security program's earning test. Both of these changes, if they occur, can be expected to affect the retirement decisions…

The American Chemical Society (ACS) survey of the year 1975 reveals low unemployment among chemists but that salaries failed to keep pace with the boost in the consumer price index. It is also indicated that unemployment among chemists may continue to rise during the rest of 1975 and that women in the field at all work levels, at all degree…

In a study of data concerning distribution of earned income among men and women from 1958 to 1977, it appears that the trend toward greater inequality among men continued but slowed in recent years. The more unequal distribution for women remained stable, probably reflecting limited advances. (CT)

Uses data from the 1986 Canadian labor market activity survey file to derive estimates of residual gender wage gap differences. Investigates these estimates' dependence on experimental design and on assumptions about discrimination-free wage structures. Residual differences persist, even after restricting the sample to a group of highly motivated,…