Volume 6, Number 4 (Fall) 1971
Cohen, Malcolm S. 1971. "Sex Differences in Compensation." Journal of Human Resources 6(4):434-447.
Five hypotheses explaining differences in pay between men and women were examined: wage discrimination, occupational wage levels, job choice and working conditions, fringe benefits, and qualifications and productivity of women. Data were from a 1969 survey of working conditions of American workers. A difference of $5,000 was found in mean pay between women and men working full time in 1969. The difference was only $2,500 among nonprofessional workers, aged 22-64, with a steady job and working the same number of hours. About 42 percent of the men, compared to 27 percent of the women, reported their jobs exposed them to physical dangers or unhealthy conditions. The most important reason for the difference in the average pay of men and women is the clustering of women in lower paying jobs.
The author is Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Michigan. The author is indebted to Russell Hill, Stanley Seashore, Frank Stafford, and the referees and editor of this Journal for comments on an earlier draft of the paper. Aiko Ryujin provided editorial assistance. The research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, Grant No. 3010, and by the Manpower Administration. The survey was carried out by the Institute of Social Research by Robert Quinn and Thomas Mangione, supported by a grant from the Work Place Standards Administration of the Department of Labor. The author alone assumes responsibility for all errors.
© 2003 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
US ISSN 0022-166X