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Children, Time Allocation and Consumption Insurance

Author

Listed:
  • Blundell, Richard

    (University College London)

  • Pistaferri, Luigi

    (Stanford University)

  • Saporta-Eksten, Itay

    (Tel Aviv University)

Abstract

We consider the life cycle choices of a household that in each period decides how much to consume and how to allocate spouses' time to work, leisure, and childcare. In an environment with uncertainty, the allocation of goods and time over the life cycle also serves the purpose of smoothing marginal utility in response to shocks. We combine data on consumption, spouses' wages, hours of work, and time spent with children to estimate the sensitivity of consumption and time allocation to transitory and permanent wage shocks. These structural parameters describe the ability of household to self-insure in response to shocks. We find that behavioral responses to wage shocks depend on the presence of young children. We also find that labor supply cross-responses depend on three counteracting forces: complementarity of leisure time, substitutability of time in the production of child services, and added worker effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Blundell, Richard & Pistaferri, Luigi & Saporta-Eksten, Itay, 2017. "Children, Time Allocation and Consumption Insurance," IZA Discussion Papers 11237, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11237
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    consumption smoothing; time use; family labor supply;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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