The gender pay gap. Origins and policy responses. A comparative review of 30 European countries

Reducing the gender pay gap is an important topic on the European political agenda. Since 1999 it has been part of the European Employment Strategy and policy efforts have intensified over the years. In 2003 member states were called on to formulate targets in this respect in order “to achieve by 2010 a substantial reduction in the gender pay gap in each Member State through a multi-faceted approach addressing the underlying factors of the gender pay gap including sectoral and occupational segregation, education and training, job classifications and pay systems, awareness raising and transparency”. This report addresses the gender pay gap. Data will be
provided on the extent and the development of the gender pay gap for 25 EU member states. In addition, the report contains information from three EEA countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and two candidate countries, Bulgaria and Romania. In particular the report focuses on how public policies try to reduce wage differences between women and men.