The gender earnings gap in sharing economy services: The role of price, number of stays, and guests accommodated on Airbnb

ABSTRACT Sharing economy platforms present a unique work opportunity for service providers seeking freedom and flexibility, yet discrepancies in earnings between genders are found to persist. Extracting data from over 8,000 service providers on Airbnb, we reveal that males generate higher earnings than females for comparable accommodations. This discrepancy is attributed to three factors revealing that male vs. female hosts are more likely to: set higher prices, generate more stays, and accommodate a greater number of guests per stay. This research carries significant implications for marketing theory and practice, impacting digital platform managers, policymakers, and researchers investigating earnings differences between genders.