2021/10/1 ～ 2023/3/31

Gender Pay Gap over the Life-Cycle in Low-Fertility Economies – The Cases of Japan and Taiwan

This study aims to investigate gender pay gap in economies with low fertility rates. We particularly study Japan and Taiwan, which have extremely low fertility, as examples. We plan to investigate women and men’s earnings patterns over the life cycle and examine the change in gender gap in each age groups. We will conduct empirical analysis to further understand the effects of marriage and having children on the gender wage gap, and how the gap interacts with women’s fertility decision, particularly in countries with very low fertility rates, e.g. Japan and Taiwan. 

In addition, the trend of gender pay gap over time will be studied. It is found that the gender gap has been significantly reduced in 1980s. We will have a cross-country comparison and discuss possible determinants. We will also try to estimate labor market discrimination that is one possible cause for the gender wage gap.