Quarterly Journal of Economics Vol. 133 No. 1 2018
Preference for the Workplace, Investment in Human Capital, and Gender*
open access
Abstract
We use a hypothetical choice methodology to estimate preferences for workplace attributes from a sample of high-ability undergraduates attending a highly selective university. We estimate that women on average have a higher willingness to pay (WTP) for jobs with greater work flexibility and job stability, and men have a higher WTP for jobs with higher earnings growth. These job preferences relate to college major choices and to actual job choices reported in a follow-up survey four years after graduation. The gender differences in preferences explain at least a quarter of the early career gender wage gap.
- DOI
- 10.1093/qje/qjx035
- Volume
- 133
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 457-507
- Language
- en
- Sources
- bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref