The evolution of gender in the labour market

Claudia Olivetti, the George J. Records 1956 Professor of Economics and a member of the Steering Committee of the Program in Quantitative Social Science (QSS), was recently featured in an article, "The evolution of gender in the labour market," published by the Centre for Economic Policy Research, a non-partisan European organization that disseminates policy-relevant research.

In their article, Professor Olivetti, Barbara Petrongolo, a Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford, and Jessica Pan, a Professor of Economics at the National University of Singapore, examine persistent gender disparities in the labor market and in household labor.  Despite progress in closing pay gaps, they find that women still tend to participate less in the workforce than do men, earn lower wages, and take on more unpaid domestic work. Professor Olivetti's research highlights two key explanations for this: inherent gender differences versus structural constraints shaped by norms and discrimination. The consensus among economists is that cultural and societal barriers play a larger role of the two.

Professor Olivetti's work underscores the need for public policies that can address structural barriers and create equitable labor markets.

For the full article, visit The evolution of gender in the labour market.

In Winter 2025, Professor Olivetti taught ECON 37: Gender and Family Issues in Modern Economies.