Differenze salariali di genere e determinanti della loro evoluzione nei contributi di C. Goldin

The issue of gender inequality has seen significant progress, particularly due to the numerous emancipation movements undertaken by women in recent decades. Focusing on the labour market, over the past 40 years, the gender pay gap has narrowed dramatically, and women have increasingly entered traditionally male-dominated sectors. These two outcomes are closely connected, as extensive research indicates that predominantly female occupations tend to pay less, even after accounting for various worker characteristics and occupational factors, although the interpretation of these findings remains debated. Yet even today, a gap persists between men and women in participation in the economic and political life of countries, and gender discrimination is observed despite equal skills and abilities. In 2023, American economist Claudia Goldin, a professor at Harvard University, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics "for improving our understanding of the outcomes of women's labour market." Her work led to a greater comprehension of the roots of gender inequalities and the historical causes of the persistent gap, reaffirming the socio-economic importance of studies in this direction in today’s society. The aim of this work is to examine the gender pay gap in the labour market and to identify its trends and determinants, with insights from Claudia Goldin's contributions. This analysis will focus on the case of the US labour market, which will ultimately be compared to the Italian one.