The Effect of Income on Household Time Allocation Among Chinese Couples

Abstract

Gender equalization has progressed considerably in all areas but has prolonged domestic work. Previous research suggests that income is essential in the distribution of time spent on housework between couples. However, there is still debate about how income works within Chinese households. Therefore, it is necessary to study how income influences the time spent on housework by Chinese couples. This paper uses data from The China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2022 and selected married two-income households aged 18-65 as our study population. Based on the results of the study and the Nash cooperative game ‘divorce-threat’ model, the hypotheses were then regressed using the Tobit model. Robustness tests were then conducted using the OLS regression model and the replacement variables method. Finally, the impact of income on the distribution of household work time of Chinese couples was analyzed, followed by conclusions. Firstly, the allocation of housework time during working days is influenced by income factors, while the distribution of housework time on rest days is not influenced by income. Secondly, individual income is negatively related to own time spent on housework, while the spouse’s income is positively associated with wife/husband time. Thirdly, the wife’s relative income is “U” shaped, and the relative gain of the husband is “inverted U” shaped.