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Female labour, status and decision power

Author

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  • Bros, Catherine
  • Gille, Véronique
  • Maniquet, François

    (Université catholique de Louvain, LIDAM/CORE, Belgium)

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of (perceived or own) norm cost in the relationship between female labour supply and decision power, which we define as the say that women have in major household decisions. We propose a model where female labour supply and decision power are set jointly following a bargaining process. Taking into account the fact that men may lose status when having a working wife, we show that decision power and female labour supply can be negatively correlated. We test the predictions of our model using Indian panel data. We find that the relationship is negative in contexts where the norm cost of having a working wife is high.

Suggested Citation

  • Bros, Catherine & Gille, Véronique & Maniquet, François, 2022. "Female labour, status and decision power," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2022027, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cor:louvco:2022027
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    Cited by:

    1. Yang Yang, 2023. "Hukou Identity and Economic Behaviours: A Social Identity Perspective," Erudite Ph.D Dissertations, Erudite, number ph23-02 edited by Catherine Bros & Julie Lochard.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Status ; Decision Power ; Bargaining model ; Labour supply ; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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