The 4-day workweek could be the best way to bridge the gender pay gap–and the companies that have tried it are living proof

little african american girl with mother sitting in car (Credit: Getty Images)

The recipient of the latest Nobel Prize in Economics, Prof. Claudia Goldin, has analyzed 200 years of data on the gender pay gap–and proved that the current earnings gap can be mainly attributed to childcare responsibilities.

Childcare responsibilities are often disproportionately borne by women, primarily due to the traditional gender roles that have persisted for generations in many cultures around the world. These roles have perpetuated the societal expectation that women are the primary caregivers in households. A four-day work week presents an opportunity to encourage fathers to participate more equitably in childcare duties.