Abstract
AbstractObjectiveThis study examines how the interplay of both partners' employment biographies is associated with the within‐couple gender wealth gap in later life in Britain and Western Germany, including married couples born between the 1920s and 1960s.BackgroundAlthough it is well‐known that women own less personal wealth than their male partners on average, variation in the gender wealth gap across partners' employment constellations and contexts remains unaddressed. Following the life course paradigm, this study theorizes how individual wealth accumulation, within‐couple redistribution processes, and institutional arrangements shape the within‐couple gender wealth gap in later life.MethodThe analyses rely on retrospective employment and prospective survey data from Britain (UKHLS; Wave 8; 2016–2018) and Germany (SOEP, 2017). Sequence and cluster analyses detect patterns of dyadic employment biographies (ages 20–55) among different‐sex couples in their first marriage and OLS regressions associate them with the within‐couple gender wealth gap.ResultsThe within‐couple gender wealth gap to the disadvantage of women existed in Britain and Western Germany, with considerably larger inequality in Germany. German male breadwinner couples, particularly those with longer periods of female homemaking and part‐time employment, showed higher levels of wealth inequality. Whereas dyadic employment biographies were not clearly associated with the gender wealth gap in Britain, stable arrangements of female full‐time employment reduced the gap in Germany.ConclusionA similar division of labor throughout the life course can result in different levels of the within‐couple gender wealth gap in later life across country contexts, particularly depending on the housing system.
Highlights
In light of population aging, economic well-being in later life becomes a crucial topic of interest for policy and research
Objective: This study examines how the interplay of both partners’ employment biographies is associated with the within-couple gender wealth gap in later life in Britain and Western Germany, including married couples born between the 1920s and 1960s
This study focused on wealth inequality in later life among different-sex couples in their first marriage in Britain and Western Germany
Summary
In light of population aging, economic well-being in later life becomes a crucial topic of interest for policy and research. Abstract Objective: This study examines how the interplay of both partners’ employment biographies is associated with the within-couple gender wealth gap in later life in Britain and Western Germany, including married couples born between the 1920s and 1960s.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.