Older Working Persons and the Gender Pay Gap: Estimations Using Gender Norm Variables in Peru.

This article examines the gender pay gap among older working persons (aged 60 and above) in Peru, finding an average national gap of 68 percent, which is substantially larger than that observed among younger workers. Using a Mincer-type labor income model and Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition on household survey data from 2004 to 2021, the study incorporates three gender norm variables—being head of household, receiving private family transfers, and political participation—that significantly increase the explained portion of the pay gap, highlighting the role of cultural and social gender norms in perpetuating income disparities. The gender pay gap is highest in urban areas (around 80 percent) and varies regionally, with the model explaining more of the gap in rural and non-Metropolitan Lima areas than in the capital's modern districts. The authors recommend expanding social pension coverage and adopting gender-sensitive labor policies to address persistent inequities, while suggesting further research on intersecting identities and the impact of COVID-19 on the pay gap.