People I (Mostly) Admire 56. Claudia Goldin: What’s “Greedy Work” and Why Is It a Problem?
Dec 18, 2021
Claudia Goldin, a Harvard economist and author of "Career and Family," dives into the complexities faced by women in the labor market. She discusses the idea of 'greedy work' and its impact on wage disparity. Goldin explores how inflexible jobs and family responsibilities hinder women's earnings and reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic might be a turning point. The conversation also highlights the need for policy changes to balance caregiving roles and employment, advocating for reforms to support gender equality in the workplace.
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Gender Wage Gap Measurement
- The gender wage gap, calculated using median incomes, has narrowed from 59 cents to 82 cents on the dollar.
- This gap is smaller at the median than at the top, where high-earning men skew the distribution.
Occupational Segregation
- Occupational gender segregation, where men and women choose different professions, is a less significant factor in the wage gap than commonly believed.
- Differences in earnings within the same occupation play a larger role, particularly in high-paying, demanding fields.
Greedy Work
- "Greedy work," demanding jobs with long, inflexible hours, significantly contributes to the gender wage gap.
- Women often choose more flexible jobs to accommodate family responsibilities, but these jobs typically pay less.
