Legislation and labour market gender inequality: An analysis of OECD countries

This paper presents the results of statistical analysis of workplace gender equality in OECD countries, including a time series regression analysis from 1974 to 1986. Two models of approaches to gender inequality in labour markets are set up - a ‘liberal’ and a ‘collective’ model - and the characteristics of each examined for their effects on measures of gender equality. The results suggest that aspects of the ‘collective’ model, such as a centralised industrial relations system, high levels of public employment relative to total employment and sustained expenditure on active labour market programmes are most likely to deliver relatively high earnings for women, although not all these factors are conducive to high levels of female participation in labour markets. No clear evidence was found to support the efficacy of legislative measures in the pursuit of gender equality. The paper argues that the emancipatory potential of legislative moves will be best enhanced within a ‘collective’ framework