Comparison of the Gender Pay Gap Indicator in the Czech Republic with Selected European Union Countries in the Years 2013–2023

This thesis focuses on a comparative analysis of the Gender Pay Gap (GPG) in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Poland during the period from 2013 to 2023. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the development of GPG in these three countries through a comparative analysis of available data, with particular emphasis on differences between the public and private sectors. The study also aims to explore the specific factors contributing to pay disparities between men and women. A further objective is to formulate economic policy recommendations to reduce the GPG, based on an assessment of government measures and strategies implemented in the selected countries, as well as the results of a questionnaire survey examining public awareness in the Czech Republic regarding gender-based pay disparities in comparison with Germany and Poland. The theoretical part of the thesis, based on a literature review, defines key concepts relevant to the topic. It subsequently discusses the notion of discrimination, including economic models of discrimination, and elaborates on the concept of the Gender Pay Gap, its causes, and its socioeconomic consequences. The final chapter of the theoretical section introduces tools and methods used to identify and measure the GPG. The first part of the empirical section presents a comparative analysis of selected macroeconomic indicators, including employment and unemployment rates, the share of part-time work, and the representation of women in managerial and senior managerial positions. It then analyses and compares GPG values in the public and private sectors, by economic sectors classified according to NACE Rev. 2, as well as across the total economy of each country. The results indicate that the Czech Republic consistently exhibits a higher GPG than both Germany and Poland—in the private and public sectors, as well as in the economy overall. The second part of the practical section is devoted to a questionnaire survey conducted among the Czech population. Its aim is to examine public awareness of the GPG, attitudes toward gender equality measures in pay, and perceptions of the situation in Germany and Poland. The survey results reveal that 82% of respondents are familiar with the term GPG, 85% believe that gender-based pay differences exist, and 79.4% think the state should address the issue. However, only 19.7% are aware of specific government measures related to the GPG. Based on the findings of the analysis and the survey, four economic policy recommendations are proposed to support systemic solutions for achieving pay equality between men and women. These include: the introduction of a wage transparency law with mandatory reporting obligations extended to medium-sized enterprises; broader use of the Logib analytical tool for identifying GPG, including its mandatory implementation in the public sector; support for the reintegration of parents into the workforce after parental leave through the legislative establishment of the right to flexible work arrangements for parents of children under the age of eight; and the implementation of a long-term public awareness campaign on equal pay policy.