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Working time preferences, hours mismatch and well-being of couples: Are there spillovers?

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  • Wunder, Christoph
  • Heineck, Guido

Abstract

Working time arrangements determine, to a large extent, the successful balancing of work and family life. This study investigates the role of working time preferences and hours mismatch for well-being among couples. The empirical evidence indicates that well-being is generally lower among those with working time mismatch. Particularly underemployment is detrimental for well-being. We further provide first evidence on spillovers from the partner's working time mismatch that are, however, no longer significant once we control for the partner's well-being. This suggests that well-being is contagious, and that the spillover is due to caring preferences.

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  • Wunder, Christoph & Heineck, Guido, 2013. "Working time preferences, hours mismatch and well-being of couples: Are there spillovers?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 244-252.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:24:y:2013:i:c:p:244-252
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2013.09.002
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Subjective well-being; Life satisfaction; Working time preferences; Working time mismatch; Spillovers; Caring preferences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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