Using novel time-use data from Germany before and after reunification, we document two facts: First, spouses that both work full-time exhibit the same housework pattern whether they do so voluntarily or due to a full-time mandate, as in the GDR. Second, men’s amount of housework is the same regardless of their spouse’s labour supply.
- Speaker
- Date
- Friday 15 Mar 2024, 15:30 - 16:45
- Type
- Seminar
- Room
- T3-13
- Building
- Mandeville Building
(joint with Jonas Jessen, Sebastian Schweighofer-Kodritsch and Jan Berkes)
We theoretically explain this pattern by the presence of two household goods and socially learnt gender-specific comparative advantage in their home production. We label this gender specialisation as separate housework spheres.
We find that separation occurs along the lines of more time-intensive routine (female) vs. less time-intensive non-routine (male) housework, and the presence of children further exacerbates the resulting housework gender-gap.
Evidence from gendered parent-child interaction and teenagers' time-use supports intergenerational transmission. We discuss implications for child penalties, effects of shocks such as COVID-19, and policy aiming for gender equality.
About the speaker
Felix is a Professor of Economics (Public Economics) at the European University Viadrina and a Senior Reserach Associate at the DIW Berlin in the Department Education and Family. His research covers many topics including human capital formation, peer effects in schools, labour supply and the role of gender, and the role of expectations in markets. His papers have been published in among others the Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economics and Statistics, Economic Journal and the Journal of Labor Economics.
Registration
If you would like to book a bilateral or join for lunch or dinner on Friday, please send an email to dur@ese.eur.nl.
