Sexual orientation and wage differentials using anthropometric and health measures

Abstract

This paper analyzes salary differentials based on sexual orientation. Hitherto, the incipient studies addressing the theme in Brazil used the 2010 demographic census conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). However, the implementation of the Integrated Household Survey System (SIPD) in IBGE’s sample surveys started to include the distinction between same-sex and different-sex spouses for the person responsible for the domicile in its questionnaire. In this context, this research seeks to advance the scant literature on the subject using the unprecedented 2013 National Health Survey (PNS), which like the 2010 census presents a nationwide comprehensive set of socioeconomic characteristics. Also, the PNS contains information on the health of the Brazilian population and anthropometric measures, which allows the expansion of the controls associated with human capital variables. Part of the results corroborate findings in the international literature where wage differentials in favor of lesbians were observed when compared to their sexual counterparts.