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Equity and Gender: The Comparable Worth Debate
Comparable worth-the idea that women ought to be paid the same wages as men performing comparable although not the same jobs-has generated a firestorm of controversy. This analysis of the comparable worth debate takes up its pros and cons in an extraordinarily disciplined and fair-minded manner. After outlining the debate, Paul attempts to resolve
164 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
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July 25, 2024
A FREE MARKET PERSPECTIVE ON "COMPARABLE WORTH”
At the time this Cato Institute book was published in 1989, Ellen Frankel Paul was professor of political science at Bowling Green State University and an adjunct scholar at Cato. She said in her Introduction, "I will evaluate the economic and pragmatic arguments of both sides of the comparable worth debate. I will also describe the legal background to the debate, legislative developments on the state and national levels, and judicial decisions."
She observes, "Women who have never married have historically received wages roughly comparable to men's. The wage gap, then, is a phenomenon obtaining between men and women who are married." (Pg. 17)
She argues, "If comparable worth were mandated, women would be encouraged to remain in traditionally female occupations and they would feel less pecuniary pressure toward entering traditionally male fields." (Pg. 51) Later, she states, "What comparable worth proponents are searching for is some identifiable, objective qualities that are transferable from job to job and that everyone could, at least theoretically, agree upon. But are they not searching in vain? ... If there is no intrinsic value to a job, then it cannot be measured." (Pg. 112)
She suggests, "One's worth, in the moral sense, is not measured in the marketplace by one's wage. Price and salary are economic terms, and they depend upon the available supply and the demand for particular kinds of labor... Thus, even the market cannot equate the worth (in the moral sense) of one job with another; all it shows is that at any particular time secretaries are paid more or less than zoo keepers." (Pg. 116)
Although an "older" book, most of Paul's arguments and analysis retain their vigor.
At the time this Cato Institute book was published in 1989, Ellen Frankel Paul was professor of political science at Bowling Green State University and an adjunct scholar at Cato. She said in her Introduction, "I will evaluate the economic and pragmatic arguments of both sides of the comparable worth debate. I will also describe the legal background to the debate, legislative developments on the state and national levels, and judicial decisions."
She observes, "Women who have never married have historically received wages roughly comparable to men's. The wage gap, then, is a phenomenon obtaining between men and women who are married." (Pg. 17)
She argues, "If comparable worth were mandated, women would be encouraged to remain in traditionally female occupations and they would feel less pecuniary pressure toward entering traditionally male fields." (Pg. 51) Later, she states, "What comparable worth proponents are searching for is some identifiable, objective qualities that are transferable from job to job and that everyone could, at least theoretically, agree upon. But are they not searching in vain? ... If there is no intrinsic value to a job, then it cannot be measured." (Pg. 112)
She suggests, "One's worth, in the moral sense, is not measured in the marketplace by one's wage. Price and salary are economic terms, and they depend upon the available supply and the demand for particular kinds of labor... Thus, even the market cannot equate the worth (in the moral sense) of one job with another; all it shows is that at any particular time secretaries are paid more or less than zoo keepers." (Pg. 116)
Although an "older" book, most of Paul's arguments and analysis retain their vigor.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review