Can Brussels crack the gender pay gap?

Can Brussels crack the gender pay gap?

June 15, 2026 · 23 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the EU's efforts to address the gender pay gap through new directives and the challenges of implementing effective policies.

A new directive strives to narrow the 11% hourly wage gap between men and women in the EU. Around the world, the gender pay gap has been shrinking as women gain access to higher education and better employment opportunities. Though varied hours, industries and care responsibilities make this inequality a difficult problem to tackle with one universal policy. Member states have just passed their deadline to implement measures that will hold employers to account for pay disparities in the workplace so will pay transparency solve the persistent gap? Contributors Emma Duchini, assistant professor of economics, University of Essex, UK Marianne Bertrand, professor of economics, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, US Adamnesh Bogale, head of gender, African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), Ghana Marina Tverdostup, economist, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, Austria. Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Evie Yabsley Researcher: Amelia Cox Sound engineer: Toby James Production co-ordiantor: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey Editor: Tom Bigwood (Photo: A woman typing)

People in this episode

Host: Charmaine Cozier

Guests: Emma Duchini, Marianne Bertrand, Adamnesh Bogale, Marina Tverdostup

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Essex, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, African Centre for Economic Transformation, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies

Places: EU, Ghana, Austria

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