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Closing Gender Gaps Workshop

The 3rd Annual Gender Workshop took place on Thursday 12 March 2026 at LSE.

Closing Gender Gaps: Evidence and Policy Interventions

A joint initiative of AXA Gender Lab (Bocconi), the NYUAD Inequality Cluster, and Women in Social and Public Policy Research Hub, LSE (WISPPRH).

Gender gaps in earnings, career advancement, and household responsibilities persist across developed economies despite decades of policy intervention.

This workshop brought together researchers tackling why these inequalities endure and how we can address them, both through the persistence of gender gaps and potential policy solutions.

The morning session focused on hiring practices, job search behaviour, and how firms respond to workplace sexual harassment legislation.

The afternoon session analysed the household dynamics and family formation, with papers investigating couple preferences, educational choices, paternity leave policies, and the relationship between economic expectations and fertility decisions.

Location: Graham Wallas Room, Old Building, Houghton St, London WC2A 2AE

Chair: Dr Margaux Suteau (Department of Social Policy, LSE)

9:15 AM - 9:30 AM: Opening and welcome address- Professor Almudena Sevilla

9:30 AM - 12:30 PM: AM Labour Markets: Hiring, Job Search, and Firms

Max Thon (University of Zurich & University of Cologne)
How to attract talent? Field-experimental evidence on emphasizing flexibility and career opportunities in job advertisements
Discussant: Viola Salvestrini

Roland Rathelot (ENSAE, IP Paris, and CREST)
How do women and men search for jobs?
Discussant: Kenza Elass

Sonia Bhalotra (University of Warwick)
Firm responses to legislation on workplace sexual harassment
Discussant: Olivia Masi

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: LUNCH

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Household Preferences

Teodora Boneva (University of Bonn)
Are men’s preferences for couple equity misperceived? Evidence from six countries
Discussant: Margaux Suteau

Claudia Hupkau (CUNEF Universidad)
Paternity Leave in Spain
Discussant: Gabriela Deschamps

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM: COFFEE BREAK

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Family Formation

Kristiina Huttunen (Aalto University)
Education, Gender and Family Formation
Discussant: Elisa Baldazzi

Serena Trucchi (Cardiff University)
Inflation Expectations and Fertility Outcomes
Discussant: Sina Smid

Closing statement: Professor Paola Profeta and Dr Margaux Suteau

DINNER 7:00 PM:  Location TBD Only for speakers and discussants