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Total work and gender: facts and possible explanations

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  • Michael C Burda

    (Institut für Wirtschaftstheorie - HU Berlin - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin = Humboldt University of Berlin = Université Humboldt de Berlin)

  • Daniel S Hamermesh

    (CWGS - Center for Women's and Gender Studies - University of Texas at Austin [Austin])

  • Philippe Weil

    (OFCE - Observatoire français des conjonctures économiques (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po)

Abstract

Time-diary data from 27 countries show a negative relationship between GDP per capita and gender differences in total work--for pay and at home. In rich non-Catholic countries men and women average about the same amount of total work. Survey results show scholars and the general public believe that women work more. Widespread average equality does not arise from gender differences in the price of time, intra-family bargaining or spousal complementarity. Several theories, including ones based on social norms, might explain these findings and are consistent with evidence from the World Values Surveys and microeconomic data from Australia and Germany.

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  • Michael C Burda & Daniel S Hamermesh & Philippe Weil, 2012. "Total work and gender: facts and possible explanations," Working Papers hal-01070284, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-01070284
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-01070284
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    time use ∙ gender differences ∙ household production;

    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • D13 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Production and Intrahouse Allocation

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