Employment Decisions of Married Women: Evidence and Explanations

Labour: Review of Labour Economics and Industrial Relations, Vol. 14, Issue 1, March 2000

Posted: 20 Jun 2001

See all articles by Daniela Del Boca

Daniela Del Boca

University of Turin - Department of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics; Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics (CHILD)

Marilena Locatelli

University of Turin - Department of Economics

Silvia Pasqua

University of Turin - Department of Economics

Abstract

Aggregate evidence has revealed a significant increase in women's labour market participation (especially among married women) and a decline in male participation, both in Italy and in all the other OECD countries. This paper empirically tests the relationship between the education and employment status of husbands and wives using the Bank of Italy Survey (1995). The results of our analysis show that employed women are likely to be married to employed men with a higher level of education and higher income. The estimates of the labour supply decisions of wives show that the effect of the unemployment status of husbands is mediated by other factors associated with the family's view of wives working outside home. The response to a husband's unemployment depends significantly on the employment decisions of parents (mothers and mothers-in-law), a proxy for the couple's attitude towards women's work.

Suggested Citation

Del Boca, Daniela and Locatelli, Marilena and Pasqua, Silvia, Employment Decisions of Married Women: Evidence and Explanations. Labour: Review of Labour Economics and Industrial Relations, Vol. 14, Issue 1, March 2000, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=243096

Daniela Del Boca

University of Turin - Department of Economics ( email )

Via Po, 53
Torino, 10124
Italy

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic Economics (CHILD)

Turin, TO
Italy

Marilena Locatelli (Contact Author)

University of Turin - Department of Economics ( email )

Lungo Dora Siena, 100A
Torino, 10156
Italy
+39 011 6703894 (Phone)
+39 011 6703895 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.de.unito.it/web/member/locatelli/personal-inf.htm

Silvia Pasqua

University of Turin - Department of Economics ( email )

Via Po, 53
Torino, 10124
Italy

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