Young Children, Growing Children – How Does Their Presence in the Family Affect Time Allocation Decisions for Men and Women?

Abstract

Objective This paper attempts to examine the influence of selected characteristics of household members on how they manage their time as an economic resource. Methodology In order to account for the interpenetration of different spheres of people’s activity and preferences regarding their choice, a multiple-equation model, in the form of structural equations, was used. Findings Among the potential determinants of individuals’ time allocation, the following were identified: gender, age, labor force participation, wage rates, the presence of children, education level, and the structure of the household itself, including the presence of a partner. The conclusions, formulated on the basis of the findings, focus on gender inequalities in terms of the time devoted to work and the role of children in shaping the daily activity of adults. Value Added While the presence of a young child primarily results in a decrease in paid-work time and an increase in household work for women, older children tend to help with housework, which mainly results in a reduction in housework for men. It was also observed that taking care of a child by a single person, irrespective of gender, is associated with a significantly greater increase in total domestic work time compared to the situation in households formed by two adults. Recommendations The traditional version of the neoclassical theory describes the demand for market goods and services separately. The new household theory breaks with this dichotomy and shows that consumption decisions cannot be interpreted without also considering the supply of labor, or the time allocation of individuals in general. Work on time allocation is important not only in the context of understanding the determinants of non-market activity and leisure time, but also in research on the valuation of working time. Time use databases combined with monetary budget data are used in analyses of the economics of human resource use and in new methods for estimating consumption among household members. Research on Polish households in this area is the next stage of research work that will be undertaken in the near future.