The gender pay gap in shared-ownership firms: Determinants, variation and parity-seeking measures

Abstract

This study examines the gender pay gap (GPG) in shared-ownership companies with two main objectives: identifying factors contributing to the gap in cooperatives and comparing them with those in conventionally owned firms, and categorizing cooperatives based on shared patterns of behaviour to develop targeted policies for reducing gender pay disparities. The analysis is based on 69 cooperatives from MONDRAGON, a globally recognized leader in the cooperative movement and shared-ownership business models. The findings show that, like conventional companies, factors such as women's access to management positions and the nature of company activities significantly influence the pay gap in cooperatives. However, women's representation on Governing Councils and the presence of equality plans do not seem to have a measurable impact. The study identified three distinct behavioural patterns among cooperatives and proposes targeted measures for each. The results suggest that cooperatives are not fully utilizing their governance structures to address gender pay equality and may inadvertently replicate broader labour market inequalities. To tackle these challenges, the study advocates for more targeted, enforceable and impact-driven equality policies tailored to cooperatives’ unique characteristics. By segmenting cooperatives based on GPG factors, the study contributes to developing more context-specific strategies for promoting gender equality effectively.