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Worktime regulations and spousal labor supply

Author

Listed:
  • Goux, Dominique
  • Maurin, Eric
  • Petrongolo, Barbara

Abstract

We study interdependencies in spousal labor supply by exploiting the design of the French workweek reduction, which introduced exogenous variation in one's spouse's labor supply, at constant earnings. Treated employees work on average two hours less per week. Husbands of treated women respond by reducing their labor supply by about half an hour, consistent with substantial leisure complementarity, and specifically cut the non usual component of their workweek, leaving usual hours unchanged. Women's response to their husband's treatment is instead weak and rarely statistically significant, possibly due to heavier constraints in the organization of their workweek.

Suggested Citation

  • Goux, Dominique & Maurin, Eric & Petrongolo, Barbara, 2014. "Worktime regulations and spousal labor supply," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 57365, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:57365
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/57365/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • K31 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Labor Law

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