Using data from the 2004 and 2005 Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CES) comprising of 15,000 respondents, this study examines two research questions. The first of these considers the demographic differences between households whose members lose money playing the lottery and/or engaging in pari-mutuel betting and those whose members do not lose money participating in such activities. The second assesses demographic differences among households whose members lose money playing the lottery and/or engaging in pari-mutuel betting. It was found that respondents living in money-losing households are slightly older, better off financially, more likely to be married or divorced, more likely to live in a state with at least one legal casino and more likely to live in the Northeast than respondents living in non-money-losing households. Among those living in money-losing households, the least wealthy and African American respondents are more likely to lose a higher proportion of their respective incomes purchasing lottery tickets and engaging in pari-mutuel betting than wealthier respondents and whites.

Using data from the 2007 Current Population Surveys (CPS): March Supplements, the authors examine work hours of married women for non-Hispanic white, African American, and Hispanic women. The results show non-Hispanic white women’s work hours are greatly influenced by the presence of a child at home, whereas African American and Hispanic women’s work hours are not influenced by the presence of a child at home. Across the racial groups, women’s contribution to the total household income positively relate to their work hours. Our findings indicate that factors associated with married women’s work hours vary by race, and non-Hispanic women are most influenced by their family responsibilities and their family characteristics.

No abstract

No abstract