Do menstrual problems explain gender gaps in absenteeism and earnings?

Mariesa A. Herrmann and Jonah E. Rockoff

Labour Economics, 2013, vol. 24, issue C, 12-22

Abstract: The health effects of menstruation are a controversial explanation for gender gaps in absenteeism and earnings. This paper provides the first evidence on this issue using data that combines labor market outcomes with information on health. We find that menstrual problems could account for some of the gender gap in illness-related absences, but menstrual problems are associated with other negative health conditions, suggesting that our estimates may overstate causal effects. Nevertheless, menstrual problems explain very little of the gender gap in earnings.

Keywords: Gender differentials; Absenteeism; Menstrual problems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I19 J16 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:labeco:v:24:y:2013:i:c:p:12-22

DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2013.05.005

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