Can work value orientations explain the gender wage gap in Austria?

Abstract This study analyzes whether work value orientations can explain gender wage differences in Austria. It initially assumes that women have more intrinsic work value orientations than men and are, therefore, more willing to accept low incomes. By contrast, men share more extrinsic work values and are less willing to accept low wages. These assumptions were analyzed empirically with the Social Survey Austria 2016. No or only a weak effect can be found for extrinsic work value orientations. Intrinsic work value orientations have a significant, but opposite effect Higher intrinsic work value orientations – ceteris paribus – result in higher incomes. This lowers the gender wage gap, because women report higher intrinsic work value orientations.