Gender wage gap in Asia: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Purpose – Gender wage gap (GWG) issues have intensified across Asian societies, highlighting the need for a comprehensive synthesis of existing empirical research. This study aims to integrate highquality research on the Asian GWG by mapping research trends, thematic concentrations, underexplored regions and the magnitude and determinants of wage inequality. Design/methodology/approach – Using a PRISMA-based systematic literature review, the authors screened 527 records from the Web of Science Core Collection and Google Scholar, yielding 67 Q1–Q2 peer-reviewed empirical studies. The sample was analysed descriptively and synthesized through a mechanism-oriented framework across macro, meso and micro levels, with attention to exogenous shocks. Findings – Existing studies have concentrated largely on macro-institutional and wage-structure explanations, with less attention paid to meso- and micro-level mechanisms. The literature is geographically asymmetric, strongly concentrating on China, whereas Central, Southeast, and West Asia are largely overlooked. A key mechanism gap concerns firm-level pay governance, with scarce direct evidence on how organizations reproduce or mitigate GWG. Research limitations/implications – The review is limited to English-language, Q1–Q2 peer-reviewed journal articles, which may underrepresent domestic language, non-indexed and policy-oriented studies, although these criteria improve consistency, quality control and comparability. Social implications – By clarifying dominant mechanisms and geographic blind spots, the study supports policymakers, researchers and practitioners in identifying actionable gaps for reducing GWG in Asia. Originality/value – This paper develops a framework that consolidates fragmented evidence into six thematic areas; proposes a multi-level mechanism model; identifies thematic research gaps, undercovered regions and firm-level processes; and outlines a structured agenda for future cross-country comparisons and mechanism testing in gender-related pay inequality research.