Joyce P. Jacobsen

Labor force participation

Abstract Trends in U.S. female and male labor force participation are outlined, particularly for the post-World War II period. Potential causes of these trends are then discussed, both those that operate on the demand side and those that operate on the supply side of the labor market, along with some discussion of alternative approaches to modeling these employment changes. Effects of these trends and future direction of changes are also considered.

The effects of internal migration on the relative economic status of women and men

Abstract This article examines recent internal migration patterns for the United States workforce and contrasts household earnings outcomes for movers and nonmovers by sex and marital status. Three aspects of how migration affects the relative economic status of women and men are considered: 1) the importance of relative economic opportunities for husband and wife for the decision as to whether or not to move; 2) actual economic outcomes for movers relative to nonmovers; and 3) the effect of moving on relative earnings within married-couple households. We find that the decision to move is consistent with a common preference model of household decisionmaking and that the recently available range of opportunities to migrate has had little effect on the earnings composition of married-couple and single male households, but has benefited single women.

Marriage, Specialization, and the Gender Division of Labor

We consider why the gender division of labor is so often enforced by custom and why customary gender divisions of labor generally involve both direction and prohibition. In our formal model, agents first learn skills and then enter the marriage market. We show that wasteful behavior may emerge due to strategic incentives in specialization choice and human capital acquisition and that both problems may be mitigated through a customary gender division of labor. This division is not Pareto improving. Both the distributional effects and welfare gains of a customary gender division of labor decrease as opportunities for market exchange increase.

Sex segregation at work: Trends and predictions

Abstract Census and Current Population Survey data from 1960–1990 are used to illustrate the slow downward trend in occupational sex segregation. With a view towards predicting future changes in segregation, various theoretical approaches to explaining the prevalence of sex segregation are discussed, and the indeterminate effects on sex segregation of various workforce policies are stressed.

Exploring the relationship between price and quality for the case of hand-rolled cigars

Abstract We consider whether either overall quality ratings, or hedonic equations including multiple sensory and objective characteristics, can explain price variance among hand-rolled cigars. Overall ratings have little relationship to price, but hedonic equations are relatively effective at explaining cigar price, and also at explaining cigar ratings. Perversely, the explanatory power of the hedonic price equation declines over time, although the size of the premium for Cuban cigars remains relatively constant. We consider alternative explanations for the rising residual, including the possibility that it is indicative of significant nonfunctional utility related to consumption of this product.

The effects of child-bearing on women's marital status: using twin births as a natural experiment

Abstract We use the exogenous variation in fertility caused by a twin birth to measure the impact of an unplanned child on a woman’s marital status. Contrary to previous research, we find that an unplanned child has little effect on the married mother’s probability of subsequent divorce or remarriage. For unmarried mothers we find that an unplanned child does reduce the likelihood of marriage, but that the magnitude of this effect appears smaller than previous estimates suggest.

Earnings Inequality within and across Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Groups in Four Latin American Countries

Latin American countries are generally characterized as displaying high income and earnings inequality overall along with high inequality by gender, race, and ethnicity. However, the latter phenomenon is not a major contributor to the former phenomenon. Using household survey data from four Latin American countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, and Guyana) for which stratification by race or ethnicity is possible, this paper demonstrates (using Theil index decompositions as well as Gini indices, and 90/10 and 50/10 percentile comparisons) that within-group earnings inequality rather than between-group earnings inequality is the main contributor to overall earnings inequality. Simulations in which the relatively disadvantaged gender and/or racial/ethnic group is treated as if it were the relatively advantaged group tend to reduce overall earnings inequality measures only slightly and in some cases have the effect of increasing earnings inequality measures.

Spillover effects from government employment

Abstract The indirect effects of government employment on hourly earnings for workers in both the public and private sector are examined using Census data. The proportion of employment in an occupation that is governmental is significantly positive in earnings regressions.

Incorporating Data Collection and Written Reports in Microeconomics

The advantages of incorporating short data collection exercises and writing assignments into microeconomics courses are presented.

Occupational Radiation Exposure during Pregnancy: A Survey of Attitudes and Practices among Interventional Radiologists

PURPOSE To assess attitudes of interventional radiologists toward occupational ionizing radiation exposure in pregnancy and to survey practice patterns and outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 34-question anonymous online survey on attitudes and work practices toward interventional radiologists who worked during pregnancy was sent to active SIR members, including 582 women. RESULTS There were 534 (10%) respondents, including 142 women and 363 men. Among respondents, men were statistically older than women (P < .001) and had practiced interventional radiology (IR) longer (P < .001). Of female interventional radiologists, 55% had worked during pregnancy and reported no specific mutagenic events in their offspring. Spontaneous abortions (11%) and use of reproductive technology (17%) matched that of women with similar age and socioeconomic background. Although more women changed their work practice because of concerns of occupational exposure than men (23% vs 13%), this change was largely limited to the duration of a pregnancy. Among pregnant interventional radiologists, 4 (6%) completely abstained from performing fluoroscopically guided interventions (FGIs), whereas 31 (46%) continued to spend > 80% of their work week doing FGIs with additional protection. Perceptions of impact of pregnancy on daytime work redistribution varied significantly with gender (P < .001); however, perceptions regarding impact of pregnancy on on-call hours, distribution of complex cases, and need to hire for temporary coverage were similar between the genders. CONCLUSIONS Most pregnant interventional radiologists continue to practice IR while pregnant. Pregnancy and fetal outcomes parallel that of the general population when matched for demographics. However, perceptions of impact of pregnancy on work lives of colleagues vary notably.