Doda, Enva (2025) Moving beyond the gender pay gap: an investigation of gender inequalities across European countries. Doctoral thesis, University of West London.

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Abstract

The Gender Pension Gap refers to the persistent disparity in pension income between men and women, highlighting significant financial inequalities in retirement across Europe. This research aims to analyse the key factors contributing to this gap, providing insights into its underlying causes and the extent of pension disparities among European countries. While related to the Gender Pay Gap, which reflects income disparities during an individual’s working life, the Gender Pension Gap is influenced by a broader range of factors, including career interruptions, part-time employment, differences in pension system structures, and significant life events.
Using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, specifically waves 1 to 7 spanning 2004 to 2017, this study focuses on retirees aged 65 and older across multiple European countries. It examines trends in pension disparities over time and explores contributing factors such as pension system structures, employment histories, income streams, and individual characteristics. The analysis also investigates the role of discrimination in the unexplained portion of the Gender Pension Gap and evaluates the effects of secondary income sources—such as rental income, investment returns, and long-term savings—on pension outcomes.
The methodology integrates descriptive statistics, regression models, and Cohen’s d effect size—an innovative approach not previously applied in studies of pension disparities in Europe—to measure the magnitude of gender inequalities. The Blinder Oaxaca Decomposition further quantifies the extent to which these disparities can be attributed to observable factors.
The results reveal significant variation in pension disparities across Europe. Although progress has been made in narrowing the Gender Pension Gap over time, advancements differ considerably by country and demographic group. The findings underscore the complex interplay of factors such as marital status, age cohort, employment patterns, pension system design, and secondary income streams in shaping pension outcomes. Notably, women consistently receive lower pension incomes than men across all categories. Although discrimination remains a factor contributing to these disparities, its extent varies from one country to another. Additionally, while rental income shows promise in reducing pension disparities, the impacts of financial returns and long-term savings are less predictable.
This research advances understanding of gender-based pension disparities by offering a comprehensive analysis and applying innovative quantitative methodologies. The findings deepen empirical insight into the persistence and variability of pension inequalities across Europe, emphasizing systemic and structural factors driving these disparities and underscores practical implications by highlighting the urgent need for targeted policy interventions to reform pension systems and effectively address gender-based disparities.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Identifier:	10.36828/thesis/14391
Subjects:	Business and finance
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2025
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/14391

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