Recession and Gender Wage Inequality

摘要

This paper is intended to analyze the effect of the recent recession on gender wage inequality in the US. The data in use is CPS March Supplement from 2004 to 2009. I measured the inequalities within male and female groups over time, and found there is a leap of male inequality in 2009 while female inequality stays relatively steady. I also applied the Heckman Selection Model to estimate the wage determination equation for men and women, and found during the recent recession, there are signs that inequality has been narrowed down in some aspects. However, discrimination against women in wage payment value is still there without much improvement.