Effects of sexual preferences on earnings in the Netherlands

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Population Economics
Year: 2004
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 117-131

Authors (2)

Erik Plug (Universiteit van Amsterdam) Peter Berkhout (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

A small literature suggests that bisexual and homosexual workers earn less than their heterosexual fellow workers and that a discriminating labor␣market is partly to blame. In this paper we examine whether sexual preferences affect earnings at the beginning of working careers in the Netherlands. Using an alternative, and quite possibly a better, measure of sexual identity, we find (i) that young and highly educated gay male workers earn about 3% less than heterosexual men; (ii) that similarly qualified lesbian workers earn about 3% more than their heterosexual female co-workers; and (iii) that among homosexual workers the gender gap is not observed. From this we conclude that the Dutch labor market does not discriminate on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender in entry-level jobs. Copyright Springer-Verlag 2004

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:spr:jopoec:v:17:y:2004:i:1:p:117-131
Journal Field
Growth
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29