Gender Wage Ratio and Intra-household Resources Allocation in China: Evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey

Abstract

The gender wage gap is a critical measurement of gender equality in the labor market. On the demand side in the labor market, gender differences in labor pricing can shape the household decision regarding intra-household resource allocation. Understanding how labor pricing, namely wages, affects the resources allocated to women is important to improve womens welfare in developing countries. Previous research focuses on the effects of gender norms in China, such as son preferences, on intra-household resource allocation. This paper examines how the gender wage gap affects the resources allocated to women within the household. To capture the wage shock in the labor market, I construct the gender- specific Bartik variables. The results indicate that the increases in female-to-male wages between couples improve womens nutrition intake. This work serves to inform about improving womens welfare in the family and labor market.