Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP17209
Authors: Maddalena Ferranna; JP Sevilla; Leo Zucker; David Bloom
Abstract: We analyze time use studies to describe how people allocate their time as they age, especially among paid work, unpaid work, leisure, and personal care. We emphasize differences in time allocation between older (i.e., those aged 65+) and younger people; between developed and developing countries; and by other demographic characteristics such as gender, marital status, health status, and educational attainment. We summarize related economic literature and crystallize a framework for thinking about key conceptual issues involving time allocation over the life cycle. We conclude by assessing the adequacy of global data resources in this area and by discussing some promising opportunities to fill salient gaps in the literature.
Keywords: time use; aging; demographics; paid work; unpaid work; leisure; personal care
JEL Codes: D13; D15; J14; J22
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| age (J14) | time spent on paid work (J29) |
| age (J14) | time devoted to leisure (J22) |
| age (J14) | time devoted to personal care (D13) |
| age (J14) | substitution of paid work with leisure and personal care (J22) |
| economic development (O29) | time spent on paid work (J29) |