Abstract
This paper examines whether benefits from rapid structural change accrue evenly across genders. Micro-data from Taiwan's Manpower Utilization Survey indicate that, despite a large shift in female workers toward higher-skill activities, the mean gender earnings ratio between 1978 and 1992 remained at 65 percent. Results from a level decomposition analysis offer compelling evidence that factors other than observable productivity differences have become more important determinants of gender earnings differentials across education groups. A more detailed trend decomposition, coupled with evidence on female labor force commitment, strongly suggests that worsening wage discrimination outweighs female gains due to education and experience.