Identifying the Wage Gap Between Men and Women. The Case of Greece

Abstract

Gender wage gap is an European and International socioeconomic phenomenon with a negative contribution to the efforts of social cohesion, integrity and creation of a solidarity economy. In national level, efforts for the identification and elimination of the gender pay gap have already started since 1970. Although, the phenomenon of the pay gap was been moderated, it still remains at levels above the European average. The analysis and confrontation of the multifactorial phenomenon requires a holistic approach. Women can actively contribute to employment and economic and social development through the improvement and enhancement of their skills and their general qualifications. However, their skills are often underestimated in respect to their payment and their hierarchy in the labour market. This paper studies the case of Greece by estimating the factors that generate the gender wage gap and the glass ceiling phenomenon through the analysis of micro data from 2010 Earnings Survey provided by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). We estimate pooled quantile regressions as well as quantile regressions, and we carry out a decomposition analysis by applying the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique. The results reveal that the wage gap is mainly formed due to the discrimination of gender (men and women with the same characteristics receive different wages – female wages are significantly lower). Moreover, we approach the glass ceiling phenomenon which is mainly caused due to personal characteristics of individuals.