The Work–Family Conflict: Evidence from the Recent Decade and Lines of Future Research

This contribution adopts an economic perspective to summarize what we learned in the last decade about the work–family conflict (WFC) and, primarily, where we go from here. On the basis of recent labor, demographic and socio-economic changes, and the use of both data and economic methods, we have identified a number of important topics. First, the relationship between the WFC and the kinds of family, with specific attention to motherhood/fatherhood. Later, the interrelations between the WFC and spousal problems or different satisfaction issues. We then analyze the implications of the WFC for policy and benefit issues, and, finally, the relationship between the WFC and dispositional characteristics. The future of the research should first address the limitations of the existing literature. The complete lack of longitudinal data makes it impossible to derive causal effects, with only correlations being possible. Another future avenue is the elaboration of cross-cultural papers. An interesting topic to be covered is to focus on the couple, rather than the individual, with different couples by race, religion…having implications for intra-family negotiation. Another line is to examine intergenerational issues that arise as a consequence of the delay in the nest-leaving of children and, at the same time, the presence of grandparents in the home.