Happily ever after? Intrahousehold bargaining and the distribution of utility within marriage

Dirk Bethmann and Robert Rudolf ()
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Robert Rudolf: Division of International Studies, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

No 1503, Discussion Paper Series from Institute of Economic Research, Korea University

Abstract: Using a rich longitudinal data set of married couples from the Korean Labor and Income Panel Study (KLIPS), this article seeks to uncover the relationship between intrahousehold bargaining and the distribution of experienced utility within marriage. Providing an empirical test of the cooperative bargaining model, we confirm both substantial gains from marriage and the importance of the exogenous threat point in the distribution of happiness within the household. In particular, we find that the higher a partner¡¯s relative predicted earnings outside of marriage, the higher her/ his relative gains from marriage. In addition, this study reveals an asymmetry between women and men in older couples: men on average are endowed with a lower threat point utility, yet secure higher returns from marriage. This is likely to be due to social norms and prescribed gender roles which are more prevalent within the older generation.

Keywords: Intrahousehold bargaining; Marriage; Happiness; Gender asymmetry; Generation effect (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C78 D10 I31 J12 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hme
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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http://econ.korea.ac.kr/~ri/WorkingPapers/w1503.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Happily ever after? Intrahousehold bargaining and the distribution of utility within marriage (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:iek:wpaper:1503

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