Abstract

This paper studies the role of gender in the process of structural transformation and economic development. We use nationally representative data across multiple countries and over four decades (1970-2010) to document gender differences in employment and wages across both occupations and sectors. Despite a significant closing of these gender differences over time and across countries, they continue to persist even today. We develop and estimate a general equilibrium model to quantify these gender barriers after accounting for standard economic channels (such as comparative advantage, returns to ability, sorting, etc.). We find that around a third of closing of these gender gaps can be explained by a reduction in the gender barriers.

(Joint with Tatjana Kleineberg)