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Welfare Comparisons, Economies of Scale and Equivalence Scale in Time Use

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  • Hélène Couprie

    (THEMA, Universite de Cergy-Pontoise and THEMA)

  • Gaëlle Ferrant

    (Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne-Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne,)

Abstract

How does within couples' time-use interactions generate welfare in the family ? In this paper we model economies of scale in time use. Following Browning, Chiappori and Lewbel (2006), we allow intra- household bargaining power to affect the distribution of welfare gains in the family. We estimate the model using the UK Time Use Survey (2000). Results suggest that two single individuals living apart need about 2h15 more to achieve the same utility level as when living in a couple. A woman requires on average 55% of the couple time-resources to be as well-off as when living alone. Time-poverty line is on average 11h per individual a day.

Suggested Citation

  • Hélène Couprie & Gaëlle Ferrant, 2012. "Welfare Comparisons, Economies of Scale and Equivalence Scale in Time Use," THEMA Working Papers 2012-43, THEMA (THéorie Economique, Modélisation et Applications), Université de Cergy-Pontoise.
    • Handle: RePEc:ema:worpap:2012-43
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Donni, Olivier & Molina, José Alberto, 2018. "Household Collective Models: Three Decades of Theoretical Contributions and Empirical Evidence," IZA Discussion Papers 11915, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Hélène Le Forner, 2023. "Parents' Separation: What is the Effect on Parents' and Children's Time Investments?," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 85(4), pages 718-754, August.
    3. Steven F. Koch, 2023. "Basic Needs (in)Security and Subjective Equivalence Scales," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 723-757, October.
    4. Olivier Bargain, 2017. "Welfare analysis and redistributive policies," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 15(4), pages 393-419, December.
    5. Vela Espiago, Santiago, 2023. "Diferencias intrafamiliares en la oferta de trabajo: evidencia empírica para el caso de Reino Unido [Intrahousehold labor supply differences: Empirical evidence for the UK]," MPRA Paper 117342, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Pierre-André Chiappori & José Alberto Molina, 2019. "The intra-spousal balance of power within the family: cross-cultural evidence," Boston College Working Papers in Economics 983, Boston College Department of Economics.
    7. Daniel S. Hamermesh & Michał Myck & Monika Oczkowska, 2021. "Widows’ Time, Time Stress and Happiness: Adjusting to Loss," NBER Working Papers 28752, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Melanie Borah, 2020. "Estimating Extended Income Equivalence Scales from Income Satisfaction and Time Use Data," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 687-718, June.
    9. François Gardes, 2019. "The Estimation of Price Elasticities and the Value of Time in a Domestic Production Framework: an Application using French Micro-Data," Post-Print hal-01478052, HAL.

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