ABSTRACT
The liberalization of divorce laws has reduced the commitment value of marriage and household specialization. I examine how the homemaking provision in family law that gives recognition to the contribution of homemakers in marriage in the division of marital properties at divorce affects spousal time allocation. Conceivably such law could enhance the gender division of labor within the household. I develop a non-cooperative household model to analyze the effects of the provision on spousal behavior. The empirical findings provide support for the non-cooperative household model, particularly under unilateral divorce regimes where it is difficult for partners to make long-term commitment to their partners. Consistent with the implications from the model, the results show that the unilateral divorce regimes with the homemaking provision is associated with wives increasing their housework and reducing their labor supply. The study highlights the importance in legally delineating the property rights of homemakers in marital property division at divorce, in inducing women to invest in their marriage, especially when divorce is unilateral, which could hinder spousal co-operation.
Wong, Ho-Po Crystal, When Homemakers are Compensated: The Effect of the Homemaking Provision on Spousal Time Allocation (June 13, 2019).
First posted 2021-04-16 18:30:15
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