Tammy Wynette was right. Sometimes it's hard to be a woman. You'll have bad times. He'll have good times. Two papers in the latest Economic Journal show this*.
First, Helene Couprie shows (draft here) that British women in couples do nine hours a week more housework than men, and have less leisure time. As a result, they get less than half the well-being of the couple.
Second, Olivier Donni (early draft here) shows that men gain more than women from a rise in household income. In France, women get only 120 euros of a 1000 euro rise in men's wage earnings, and only 390 euros of a 1000 euro rise in the households' non-wage income.
This might help explain why marriage rates are falling - if the offsetting benefits to women of entering marriage have fallen (say because their own wages have improved), there'll be more women for whom the cost of marriage exceed the benefits.
Mostly, though, it's just an excuse for showing this. And no mention of Tammy would be complete without reference to one of the greatest acts of genius in English history.
* Grammarians will recognize this as bathos.
"In France, women get only 120 euros of a 1000 euro rise in men's wage earnings"
That is 120 more than they would get if they were not married to him.
Posted by: anon | February 24, 2007 at 03:16 PM
"Second, Olivier Donni (early draft here) shows that men gain more than women from a rise in household income. In France, women get only 120 euros of a 1000 euro rise in men's wage earnings, and only 390 euros of a 1000 euro rise in the households' non-wage income."
Blimey; since my wages went up 4 years ago we've had a new wooden floor, new bathroom, new kitchen, new-ish car, new built-in wardrobe. None of them my preference. And sold the juke box. Likewise.
Posted by: dave heasman | February 27, 2007 at 06:52 PM