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Symmetry and Asymmetry in Working and Commuting Arrangements between Partners in the Netherlands: Does the Residential Context Matter?

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  • Edith de Meester

    (Amsterdam Institute for Metropolitan and International Development Studies, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Prinsengracht 130, 1018 VZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Maarten van Ham

    (School of Geography and Geosciences, University of St Andrews, Irvine Building, North Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9AL, Scotland)

Abstract

Time spent on work and commuting within dual-earner households is often analysed separately for individuals, but this does no justice to the reality of dual-earner households where decisions on work and commuting are made in a household context. This paper reports on a quantitative study of the impact of the residential context on working arrangements and commuting arrangements of partners in couple and family households. Using multinomial logistic regression, we analysed data from the 2002 Netherlands Housing Demand Survey and the 2004 ABF Real Estate Monitor. The results show a (gendered) effect of residential location in terms of degree of urbanisation and job access on both working and commuting arrangements. Good access to jobs makes it more likely that couples have a symmetric full-time working arrangement and also more likely that both partners work far away from home. Those in symmetric full-time working arrangements are also those most likely to be in symmetric close commuting arrangements. This finding reflects the substantial time pressure on such households.

Suggested Citation

  • Edith de Meester & Maarten van Ham, 2009. "Symmetry and Asymmetry in Working and Commuting Arrangements between Partners in the Netherlands: Does the Residential Context Matter?," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 41(9), pages 2181-2200, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:41:y:2009:i:9:p:2181-2200
    DOI: 10.1068/a41246
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Nisén, Jessica & Klüsener, Sebastian & Dahlberg, Johan & Dommermuth, Lars & Jasilioniene, Aiva & Kreyenfeld, Michaela & Lappegård, Trude & Li, Peng & Martikainen, Pekka & Neels, Karel & Riederer, Bern, 2020. "Educational differences in cohort fertility across sub-national regions in Europe," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 106201, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Jessica Nisén & Sebastian Klüsener & Johan Dahlberg & Lars Dommermuth & Aiva Jasilioniene & Michaela Kreyenfeld & Trude Lappegård & Peng Li & Pekka Martikainen & Karel Neels & Bernhard Riederer & Sask, 2021. "Educational Differences in Cohort Fertility Across Sub-national Regions in Europe," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 37(1), pages 263-295, March.
    4. Jonathan F. Fox & Sebastian Klüsener & Mikko Myrskylä, 2015. "Is a positive relationship between fertility and economic development emerging at the sub-national regional level? Theoretical considerations and evidence from Europe," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2015-006, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    5. Jonathan Fox & Sebastian Klüsener & Mikko Myrskylä, 2019. "Is a Positive Relationship Between Fertility and Economic Development Emerging at the Sub-National Regional Level? Theoretical Considerations and Evidence from Europe," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(3), pages 487-518, July.
    6. Maarten Van Ham & Allan Findlay & David Manley & Peteke Feijten, 2011. "Social mobility: Is there a benefit of being English in Scotland?," ERSA conference papers ersa10p463, European Regional Science Association.
    7. Hjorthol, Randi & Vågane, Liva, 2014. "Allocation of tasks, arrangement of working hours and commuting in different Norwegian households," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 75-83.
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    9. Chidambaram, Bhuvanachithra & Scheiner, Joachim, 2020. "Understanding relative commuting within dual-earner couples in Germany," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 113-129.
    10. Inga Laß & Thomas Skora & Heiko Rüger & Mark Wooden & Martin Bujard, 2024. "Does temporary employment increase length of commuting? Longitudinal evidence from Australia and Germany," Transportation, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 1467-1491, August.
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