Efficiency versus Gender Roles and Stereotypes: An Experiment in Domestic Production

Hélène Couprie (), Elisabeth Cudeville and Catherine Sofer ()

No 2017-10, THEMA Working Papers from THEMA (THéorie Economique, Modélisation et Applications), Université de Cergy-Pontoise

Abstract: Empirical studies cast doubts upon the efficiency assumption made in standard economic models of household behavior. The allocation of time among men and women between market and household work is highly differentiated by gender. In this paper we examine whether couples deviate from efficiency in household production, using an experimental design. We compare the allocation of gendered vs. neutral tasks. Our results show that women in the household overspecialize in “feminine tasks” and men in “masculine tasks” compared to what their comparative advantage would require, hence revealing the influence of gender roles and stereotypes on the couples’ behavior.

Keywords: Stereotypes; gender roles; household models; gender inequalities. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C92 D13 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-hme
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Efficiency versus gender roles and stereotypes: an experiment in domestic production (2020)
Working Paper: Efficiency versus gender roles and stereotypes: an experiment in domestic production (2020)
Working Paper: Efficiency versus gender roles and stereotypes: an experiment in domestic production (2020)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ema:worpap:2017-10

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