In response to Gary Oliver: A sensible view on the gender gap? Slap that man down!, Groan wrote:
Yes the charming OECD bar graph on the BBC ‘Pay Gap’ page makes the point. It’s here, near the bottom. Interestingly they appear to have toned down the colour. A more colourful version from the EU can be found here. The European nations, including the UK, that have generous provisions for mothers’ time off and flexible and part-time work are at the middle (Sweden) or high (Germany) end. Those nations with much less provision are at the low end.
A neat illustration, in Europe at least, that the more ‘choice’ the bigger the gender earnings gap. Indeed the Swedes noticed this a decade ago, and their ‘solution’ has been offering and now making mandatory much more time off for fathers. A sort of equalising down. Though it is struggling, as making both fathers and mothers earn less isn’t right popular with the parents themselves.
TCW Editor’s note: For more on the disastrous impact of the Swedish state’s attempts to achieve gender equity and ‘liberate women from their maternal instincts’ see here and here.
