Can We Inform Away the Gender Pay Gap? Evidence from Information Interventions in the Gig Economy

Abstract: This paper examines whether information interventions can reduce the gender pay gap by shifting women’s asking and acceptance behavior. Using a randomized field experiment in a gender-neutral work platform, we test three informational treatments: average platform pay, gender-differentiated pay, and a behavioral gender gap framed around task choices. Leveraging unique pre- and post-intervention task choices and a difference-in-differences design with individual fixed effects, we find that simple pay transparency has little effect, whereas behavioral framing significantly increases women’s acceptance of higher-paying tasks. The results highlight reference points and information framing in shaping pay outcomes in the absence of formal negotiation.

Keywords: Gender Pay Gap, Asking Behavior, Information Framing.