Gender Streaming in Vietnam
We examine the gender wage gap in Vietnam and show that a non-trivial part of the gap is associated with occupational sorting. We consider three explanations for why occupational sorting emerges. First, we explore whether occupational sorting is dr...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Working Paper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2018
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/567221518804656668/Gender-streaming-in-Vietnam http://hdl.handle.net/10986/29390 |
| Summary: | We examine the gender wage gap in
Vietnam and show that a non-trivial part of the gap is
associated with occupational sorting. We consider three
explanations for why occupational sorting emerges. First, we
explore whether occupational sorting is driven by gender
differences in preferences for non-monetary characteristics
of the jobs. First, we explore whether occupational sorting
is driven by gender differences in preferences for
non-monetary characteristics of jobs and find that there are
indeed differences between the genders in preferences for
having a formal contract, insurance, paid leave and shorter
hours, which may induce women to forego monetary
compensation for these characteristics. Second, we check if
occupational sorting among the adult labor force is driven
by social norms about gender roles learned and internalized
at an early age. To do so we check for evidence of sorting
in the aspirations of 12-year-old children by simulating
what the gender wage gap would be if boys and girls pursued
the occupations they aspire to at 12. And third, for women
with higher education, we check if occupational sorting
occurs during the school to work transition - if women are
less likely to find jobs within their field of study upon
graduation. We do not find support for either the second or
third hypotheses. Overall, our findings suggest that in
Vietnam gender specific preferences for non-monetary job
characteristics play a key role in emergence of occupational sorting. |
|---|