Daniela Piazzalunga (IRVAPP-FBK) on "Till Money Us Do Part: Property Division at Divorce and Married Couples' Time Use Behaviour"

Daniela Piazzalunga (IRVAPP-FBK) on
Speaker:  Daniela Piazzalunga - IRVAPP-FBK
  Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 12:30 PM Polo Santa Marta, Via Cantarane 24, Room 1.59
This paper analyses the effects of different marital property regimes on the marriage-specific investments of the spouses. In particular, it provides an empirical assessment of the effects of a change from a separation property regime towards a more equal distribution of matrimonial assets on labour supply, housework time, and childcare, taking advantage of a decision by the English House of Lord in 2000. I use a difference-in-difference approach, with individual fixed effects. Results show that married women reduced their labour supply by about 1.5-2.5 hours per week when the property regime is more favourable to them (slightly more if overtime is included). They didn't change the number of hours devoted to housework, but the probability that they are mainly responsible for children increased by 5-9%. The results hide heterogeneities: as expected, the effects are significant for women in couples with higher level of assets and wealth (proxied by education), while no effect is found among low educated women.
 

Programme Director
Giam Pietro Cipriani

External reference
Publication date
June 30, 2016

Studying

Share