http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/crtwpaper/0906.htm


We use data from the 2008-09 Athens Area Study (AAS) to provide the first evidence on the
relationship between sexual orientation and earnings in Greece. The AAS asks male adults a direct
question about their sexual orientation: about 4.52% self-identify as homosexuals and 0.86% as
bisexuals. Sexual orientation minorities are found to receive significantly lower monthly wages than heterosexual workers of the same age, education, health status and occupational characteristics.
Moreover, there is statistically significant evidence that homosexual and bisexual men have higher unemployment rates than similarly situated heterosexuals. Of further importance is the finding that
sexual orientation minorities who are also older, less educated, blue collar workers, and/or immigrants
are statistically more vulnerable to wage discrimination and unemployment than comparable
heterosexuals. Moreover, in the current research, in order to better understand the determinants of
the wage gaps, we compare homosexual/bisexual men with both married and unmarried heterosexual
men. By making these comparisons, we are able to disentangle the penalty associated with being
unmarried from other human capital explanations of the wage gap. Given the legal actions in Greece
that have the potential to affect sexual orientation minorities, it is important to understand the
relationships between sexual orientation, demography and labor market.

Dr Drydakis Nick
PhD in Economics


Work Address
Department of Accounting and Finance, Athens University of Economics and Business, 76 Patision Str, 104 34, Athens, Greece
Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, 80 Karaoli and Dimitriou Str, 18534, Piraeus, Greece
Department of Public Administration, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, 136 Syggrou Avenue, 17671, Kallithea, Athens, Greece
Scientific Centre for the Study of Discrimination, Ίσον,Athens, Greece
email: ndrydakis@econ.soc.uoc.gr