“Media reports often talk about a gender wage gap, and suggest that a primary cause is systemic wage discrimination between men and women. At the end of 2014, the Swiss government announced a proposal that would require those who employ at least 50 individuals to regularly have their employee wages analyzed by a third party. A new study from Switzerland-based Atlas Network partner Institut Libéral shows how regulations that monitor and control wages are counterproductive, creating substantial additional costs without consideration for who will ultimately pay the price. Titled “À travail égal salaire égal” (“Equal pay for equal work”), the study concludes that salary discrepancy stems from individual preferences, which lead to varying choices throughout life, including within job markets and decisions about work-home balance.
“If women really accept lower wages than men for the same work, wouldn’t contractors only hire women to obtain a competitive advantage?” researcher Christian Hoffman…”
