In fact, inequalities increase the higher up the pay scale they go. The result is that, while in OECD countries women earn on average 16% less than men, female top-earners are paid 21% less than their male counterparts. The so-called “glass ceiling” exists: women are disadvantaged when it comes to decision-making responsibilities and senior management positions, by the time they get to the boardroom, there is only one of them for every 10 men. The Norwegian experience shows that quotas can be effective in improving the gender balance at board level.