Do wives work hours hurt husbands health? Reassessing the care work deficit thesis

TitleDo wives work hours hurt husbands health? Reassessing the care work deficit thesis
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsSpringer, KW
JournalSocial Science Research
Volume39
Issue5
Pagination801-813
KeywordsConsumption and Savings, Event History/Life Cycle, Health Conditions and Status
Abstract

Life expectancy is an important factor that individuals have to take into account for saving and consumption choices. The life-cycle model of consumption and saving behaviour predicts that consumption growth should decrease with higher mortality rates. The aim of this study is to test this hypothesis based on data about subjective longevity expectations from the Health and Retirement Study merged with detailed consumption data from two waves of the Consumption and Activities Mail Survey. This study finds that an increase in subjective mortality by 1 corresponds to an annual decrease in consumption of non-durable goods of around 1.8 .

DOI10.1016/j.ssresearch.2010.04.008
Endnote Keywords

Saving/Consumption/life Cycle/MORTALITY

Endnote ID

23420

Citation Key7480