Gender Gaps in Paid Work and Wages for Five Countries [Figure 3.19]

Evaluating the Gender Wage Gap as an Explanation for the Hours Gap

In a hypothetical country, working-age men work an average of 8 paid hours per day, while working-age women work an average of 6 paid hours per day. Based on this information, what is the 'hours gap'?

Limitations of the Hours Gap Metric

Consider a scenario where the difference in the average number of paid hours worked per day between men and women remains constant. If the average paid hours for both men and women increase by the same amount, the 'hours gap' (expressed as a percentage of male hours) will decrease.

Interpreting the Hours Gap Across Different Contexts

Analyzing Factors Contributing to the Hours Gap

Match each scenario of average daily paid work hours with the correctly calculated 'hours gap'. The gap is the difference in hours as a percentage of the male average.

In a country with an 'hours gap' of 20%, working-age men work an average of 7.5 paid hours per day. Therefore, working-age women in this country work an average of ____ paid hours per day. (Enter a number only)

You are given the following data for a country: working-age men work an average of 7.5 paid hours per day, and working-age women work an average of 6 paid hours per day. Arrange the steps below in the correct sequence to calculate the 'hours gap'.

Comparative Analysis of the 'Hours Gap' Metric

A country's government has set a policy goal to reduce the disparity in work time between genders, specifically aiming for an 'hours gap' of less than 20%. The 'hours gap' is calculated as the difference in the average paid hours worked per day by men and women, expressed as a percentage of the average male hours. Which of the following scenarios would represent a successful achievement of this policy goal?