Do women's working hours inputs yield higher household economic welfare than men's?

Abstract

Time allocation, which encompasses various aspects of the labor market and the household sphere, is a key factor affecting both genders in the employment and household spheres. Using the data from China Family Panel Studies Survey (CFPS) of 2014, 2016 and 2018, the paper examines the impact of working hours input on household economic welfare. The research results indicate that women's working hours input significantly contributes to the household economy and passes a series of robustness tests; the positive effect of women's working hours input on the household economy is stronger than that of men using the household savings rate to measure household economic welfare; and there are increasing working hours input and enhancing household economic welfare through the mechanism of increasing household income. Theoretically, time allocation is placed within the logical framework of the household microcosm. It suggests that individual working hours influence household economic welfare. Practically, the research findings provide useful policy insights: raising workers' wage levels, narrowing the gender labor gap, and improving working time systems and work arrangements to promote the equal development of both genders in the employment and household spheres.