A panel-econometric analysis of the division of housework time

Abstract

In this chapter⁴⁶ the time use decisions of German couples are described and analyzed. Particular emphasis is given to the division of housework time between spouses depending on household structure. The empirical results are directly comparable with those of a study of U.S. families conducted by Joni Hersch and Leslie S. Stratton (1994). The gender-specific household activity data analyzed by Hersch and Stratton were taken from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Hersch and Stratton examined the time pattern, in particular the time devoted to household tasks, of more than 6,000 white American couples during the years 1979 to 1987. They restricted their sample to married dual earning couples with from ages 20 to 64, i.e. only the time use data of families in whichbothspouses are employed were included.