The Role of Preferences and Opportunity Costs in Determining the Time Allocated to Housework

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2012
Volume: 102
Issue: 3
Pages: 606-11

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Research on intrahousehold time allocations has assumed that housework is a necessary evil and focused exclusively on the causal role of opportunity costs. In fact, agents likely act to maximize happiness, and preferences regarding even mundane household chores differ considerably. I use information from the 2000-01 UK Time Use Survey to examine time spent on laundry, ironing, cleaning, and food shopping. Joint multivariate analysis of his and her time on weekend and weekday days as well as maid service reveals that her opportunity cost of time matters more than his, but that his preferences play a greater role than hers.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:102:y:2012:i:3:p:606-11
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29