WAGE INEQUALITIES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IN POLAND - A JUSTIFIED DIFFERENTIATION OR ACCEPTED WAGE DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN?

Wage differentiation of men and women may be caused by various reasons since many factors influence the level of individual wage rate of. We formulate a research hypothesis that lasting wage discrimination of women exists in Poland. It results mainly from shared values and cultural norms and this discrimination is accepted by a larger section of society. Therefore, the primary aim of this paper is the assessment of wages formation for men and women in Poland, taking into account similar socio-professional and demographic characteristics as well as the presentation of basic theories concerning wage discrimination against women and their verification in the case of Polish labor market. The research period was 1991 to 2015, a quarter of a century, thus allowing to determine the already formed regularities, also verifying the formulated research hypothesis.