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Article
Measurement Error in Job Evaluation and the Gender Wage Gap
Economic Inquiry
  • Shih-Neng Chen, Shih Hsin University
  • Peter F. Orazem, Iowa State University
  • J. Peter Mattila, Iowa State University
  • Jeffrey J. Greig, Burns & McDonnell
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Submitted Manuscript
Publication Date
4-1-1999
DOI
10.1111/j.1465-7295.1999.tb01424.x
Abstract

Job evaluation is used to establish pay for many workers in the United States and has been used to measure the extent of pay discrimination. However, job evaluations are subject to measurement error that can bias these estimates. Using computed reliability ratios to adjust for measurement error in a study of Iowa state government jobs, we find that measurement errors exaggerate the implied extent of discrimination against predominantly female jobs by 34%-44%. Measurement errors also exaggerate the number of independent job factors which affect pay. A practical procedure for making these corrections is illustrated.

Comments

This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article :Chen, Shih-Neng, Peter F. Orazem, J. Peter Mattila, and Jeffrey J. Greig. 1999. “Measurement Error in Job Evaluation and the Gender Wage Gap.” Economic Inquiry 37 (2): 181-194, which has been published in final form at DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.1999.tb01424.x. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving

Copyright Owner
Western Economic Association International
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Shih-Neng Chen, Peter F. Orazem, J. Peter Mattila and Jeffrey J. Greig. "Measurement Error in Job Evaluation and the Gender Wage Gap" Economic Inquiry Vol. 37 Iss. 2 (1999) p. 181 - 194
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/peter-orazem/84/