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The Gender Pay Gap: Micro Sources and Macro Consequences

Iacopo Morchio1; Christian Moser2

1 University of Bristol (email: ) · 2 Columbia University, NBER, CEPR, CESifo, and IZA@LISER (email: )

American Economic Review 2026 open access

Using linked employer-employee data from Brazil, we document a significant gender pay gap, which is largely attributed to women working at lower-paying employers. To interpret this fact, we develop an equilibrium search model with endogenous firm pay, amenities, and hiring. We provide a constructive proof of identification of all model parameters. The estimated model suggests that amenities are important for both men and women, and that compensating differentials account for half of the gender pay gap. Equal treatment policies partly close gender gaps but are not output- or welfare-improving. (JEL E24, J16, J23, J31, J32, M51, O15)

DOI
10.1257/aer.20231107
Volume
116 (5)
Pages
1765-1810
Language
en
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