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Women’s Earning Power and the “Double Burden” of Market and Household Work

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Natalie

    (University of Warwick and CEPR)

  • Conconi, Paola

    (Universit´e Libre de Bruxelles (ECARES) and CEPR)

  • Perroni, Carlo

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract

Bargaining theory predicts that married women who experience a relative improvement in their labor market position should experience a comparative gain within their marriage. However, if renegotiation possibilities are limited by institutional mechanisms that achieve long-term commitment, the opposite may be true, particularly if women are specialized in household activities and the labor market allows comparatively more flexibility in their labor supply responses. Evidence from the German Socio-Economic Panel indeed shows that, as long as renegotiation opportunities are limited, comparatively better wages for women exacerbate their “double burden” of market and household work.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Natalie & Conconi, Paola & Perroni, Carlo, 2007. "Women’s Earning Power and the “Double Burden” of Market and Household Work," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 800, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:wrk:warwec:800
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    Cited by:

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    3. Raluca Prelipceanu, 2008. "A Gendered Approach to Temporary Labour Migration and Cultural Norms. Evidence from Romania," Post-Print halshs-00344790, HAL.
    4. Paul Hanly & Corina Sheerin, 2017. "Valuing Informal Care in Ireland: Beyond the Traditional Production Boundary," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 48(3), pages 337-364.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Marriage ; Bargaining ; Renegotiation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs

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