This paper discusses the benefits of eliminating gender wage discrimination in the eradication of poverty in Catalonia. Based on data from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) for the period between 2005 and 2009, we estimate a counterfactual distribution of household income in which women are paid the same for their characteristics as men. The results predict a reduction in the risk of poverty for the Catalan population of between 1.5 and 2%. Children and especially teenagers are amongst the groups who benefit the most. In light of the results, we argue that policies that aim to make women’s position in the labour market the same as men’s should be regarded as anti-poverty measures.

Key words: gender wage discrimination, poverty, EU-SILC, Catalonia.
JEL Classification: I32, J31, J70.