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Using Time-Use Data to Estimate the Full Costs of Children

Author

Listed:
  • Bruce Bradbury

    (Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW)

Abstract

This paper uses the 'adult goods' method to estimate the full costs of children. Full costs include both expenditure and time costs. Adult personal time (comprising pure leisure, sleep and other personal care) is used as the adult good. Previous research has shown that the presence of children in the household leads to a reduction in adult personal time. This paper develops a simple household economic model to show how this information can be used to develop an equivalence scale for adult consumption which takes account of both the expenditure and time costs of children. Preliminary estimates using Australian data suggest a very large cost. A couple with two children (one of which is in pre-school) require an income around 2.7 times as large as a couple with no children in order for the adults to have the same consumption level. The full cost of children appears to decline with age (despite the expenditure cost rising). The paper discusses the limitations of the adult good method and considers the broader welfare implications of these costs while taking into account the benefits that parents obtain from parenthood.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce Bradbury, 2004. "Using Time-Use Data to Estimate the Full Costs of Children," Labor and Demography 0411002, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:wpa:wuwpla:0411002
    Note: Type of Document - pdf; pages: 21
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    File URL: https://econwpa.ub.uni-muenchen.de/econ-wp/lab/papers/0411/0411002.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alex Sienaert, 2008. "Some Child Cost Estimates for South Africa," Economics Series Working Papers WPS/2008-15, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    2. Alex Sienaert, 2008. "Some Child Cost Estimates for South Africa," CSAE Working Paper Series 2008-15, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    3. Mattila-Wiro, Päivi, 2006. "Changes in the Distribution of Economic Wellbeing in Finland," Research Reports 128, VATT Institute for Economic Research.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    consumer equivalence scales; cost of children; time-use; adult goods;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J - Labor and Demographic Economics

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