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Does "Sorting into Specialization" Explain the Differences in Time Use between Married and Cohabiting Couples? An Empirical Application for Germany

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  • Katherin Barg
  • Miriam Beblo

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to identify the sources of time use differences between married and cohabiting couples. We want to answer the question whether there is a "sorting into specialization" in marriage, i.e. whether cohabiting partners who intend a (traditional) division of work have a higher probability of getting married. In a non-parametric matching approach, we compare couples in the German Socio-Economic Panel who marry between 1991 and 2008 with couples who remain cohabiters. Taking the potential selection into marriage into account, differences in the intra-couple division of market work, housework and child care are reduced by up to 75 percent. We therefore conclude that couples who anticipate specialization in time use (and its economic advantages) pre-select into formal marriage. However, remaining differences in time use leave sufficient scope for an additional specialization-reinforcing effect of the institution of marriage in Germany, particularly for the subsample of couples who become parents.

Suggested Citation

  • Katherin Barg & Miriam Beblo, 2012. "Does "Sorting into Specialization" Explain the Differences in Time Use between Married and Cohabiting Couples? An Empirical Application for Germany," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 105-106, pages 127-152.
    • Handle: RePEc:adr:anecst:y:2012:i:105-106:p:127-152
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    Cited by:

    1. Samantha Marie Schenck, 2019. "Labor Force Attachment and Maternity Leave Usage of Cohabiting Mothers in the United States," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 729-746, December.
    2. Melanie Schröder & Norma Burow, 2016. "Couple's Labor Supply, Taxes, and the Division of Housework in a Gender-Neutral Lab," Discussion Papers of DIW Berlin 1593, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research.
    3. Lamia Kandil & Hélène Perivier, 2017. "La division sexuée du travail dans les couples selon le statut marital en France - une étude à partir des enquêtes emploi du temps de 1985-1986, 1998-1999, et 2009-2010," Documents de Travail de l'OFCE 2017-03, Observatoire Francais des Conjonctures Economiques (OFCE).
    4. Lamia Kandil & Hélène Périvier, 2017. "La division sexuée du travail dans les couples selon le statut marital en France," Working Papers hal-03457505, HAL.
    5. Carole Bonnet & Bruno Jeandidier & Anne Solaz, 2018. "Wage Premium and Wage Penalty in Marriage versus Cohabitation," Revue d'économie politique, Dalloz, vol. 128(5), pages 745-775.
    6. Lamia Kandil & Hélène Périvier, 2017. "La division sexuée du travail dans les couples selon le statut marital en France," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03457505, HAL.
    7. Hélène Le Forner, 2023. "Parents' Separation: What is the Effect on Parents' and Children's Time Investments?," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 85(4), pages 718-754, August.
    8. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/445bs70a2o9ufavlerqnopsvg1 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Ciani, Emanuele, 2016. "Retirement, pension eligibility and home production," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 106-120.
    10. Chirvi, Malte, 2017. "Arbeiten Frauen aufgrund des Ehegattensplittings weniger? Ein quasi-experimenteller Ansatz für Deutschland," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 217, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.
    11. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/445bs70a2o9ufavlerqnopsvg1 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Miriam Beblo & Anne Solaz, 2018. "New spouse, same chores? The division of household labor in consecutive unions," Post-Print hal-01892938, HAL.
    13. Miriam Beblo & Anne Solaz, 2015. "New spouse, same chores? A panel analysis of marital specialization in consecutive unions," Working Papers 217, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED).
    14. Hübgen, Sabine, 2020. "Understanding lone mothers’ high poverty in Germany: Disentangling composition effects and effects of lone motherhood," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 44, pages 1-1.
    15. Molly Mayer & Céline Le Bourdais, 2019. "Sharing Parental Leave Among Dual-Earner Couples in Canada: Does Reserved Paternity Leave Make a Difference?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 38(2), pages 215-239, April.
    16. Chirvi, Malte, 2019. "Arbeiten Frauen aufgrund des Ehegattensplittings weniger? Eine empirische Untersuchung für Deutschland," arqus Discussion Papers in Quantitative Tax Research 241, arqus - Arbeitskreis Quantitative Steuerlehre.

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