In this podcast episode dedicated to the new edition of the Handbook of Labor Economics, professors Barbara Petrongolo and Jessica Pan discuss the progress and ongoing challenges in achieving gender equality in the labor market.
Which policies have been more effective in narrowing the gender gap over the last 50 years? They highlight the significant progress made in reducing the wage gap and increasing female participation. However, they point out persistent issues like the motherhood penalty, occupational segregation and barriers in the organization of work. Effective policies have included childcare support, although longer parental leaves have shown limited success. Both emphasize the role of Claudia Goldin’s pioneering work to advance our understanding of the historical and economic factors driving gender convergence and the persistent inequalities that remain.
