Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP5438
Authors: Alison L. Booth; Jan C. van Ours
Abstract: Taking into account inter-dependence within the family, we investigate the relationship between part-time work and happiness. We use panel data from the new Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia Survey. Our analysis indicates that part-time women are more satisfied with working hours than full-time women. Partnered women's life satisfaction is increased if their partners work full-time. Male partners' life satisfaction is unaffected by their partners' market hours but is increased if they themselves are working full-time. This finding is consistent with the gender identity hypothesis of Akerlof and Kranton (2000).
Keywords: gender identity; happiness; parttime work
JEL Codes: I31; J16; J22
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| parttime women (J22) | hours satisfaction (C41) |
| fulltime women (J16) | life satisfaction (I31) |
| working hours (women) (J22) | life satisfaction (I31) |
| fulltime work (men) (J29) | life satisfaction (I31) |
| partners' working hours (J22) | men's life satisfaction (I31) |
| male share of housework (D13) | market work (men) (J46) |