Gender norms and labour market outcomes

• Applicant: Professorin Natalia Danzer, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Economic Policy, Applied Economics
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 465126436

The main objective of the project is to provide new empirical evidence on the impact of gender norms on labor market outcomes of women and men. Traditional gender roles are put forward in the recent economics literature as a possible explanation for the persistence of gender gaps in labor force participation and wages. Even though this aspect has recently gained increased attention by economists, many open research questions remain in this rather young field in economics. With the proposed project, we plan to generate new empirical findings in this field based on three interrelatd work packages. The first work package aims at providing new insights into the role of gender norms for gender differences in the labor market in the European context by using international survey data. For example, we will investigate inconsistencies between declared gender norms and actual behavior as well as whether, within couples, male or female gender norms have a stronger influence on the women's labor market behavior. In addition to generating descriptive evidence, quasi-experimental research designs will be used to estimate causal relationships by exploiting, among other things, the historical partitions and territorial and institutional changes of Poland and Germany and their long-term effects on regional attitudes and values. The second work package aims to analyze the impact of the parental leave reform in Poland in 2013 on the labour market outcomes of mothers and fathers, paying special attention to the role of gender norms. Based on quasi-experimental research methods, we will provide novel insights into the effects of this important family policy instrument in a former communist country in Central and Eastern Europe and on how its impact is related to regional social norms. In third work package, we plan to conduct a survey experiment in Germany and Poland to obtain new and innovative data on social norms regarding men's childcare and housework activities and the division of parental leave between men and women. Furthermore, the experimental part of the survey will provide new insights into whether the established effect of psychic stress on norm compliance is also present in decisions involving gender norms; an aspect that seems particularly relevant in the context of the Corona pandemic.The successful realization of the project goals will be significantly promoted by the planned cooperation of the German and the Polish team in all work packages. The added value of the collaboration will arise, among other things, from the complementary methodological, theoretical and institutional knowledge and expertise of the research teams and is expected to lead to high-quality scientific research to be published in leading journals.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Poland
• Partner Organisation: Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN)
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr. Peter N.C. Mohr
• Cooperation Partner: Professorin Dr. Ida Magda