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Effect of Labor Division between Wife and Husband on the Risk of Divorce: Evidence from German Data

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  • Kornelius Kraft
  • Stefanie Neimann

Abstract

Using German panel data from 1984 to 2007, we analyze the impact of labor division between husband and wife on the risk of divorce. Gary Becker's theory of marriage predicts that specialization in domestic and market work, respectively, reduces the risk of separation. Traditionally, the breadwinner role is assigned to the husband, however, female labor force participation and their wages have risen substantially. Our results suggest that there are gender-specific differences, e.g. female breadwinner-couples have a substantially higher risk of divorce than male breadwinner-couples. In contrast, the equal division does not significantly alter the probability of separation.

Suggested Citation

  • Kornelius Kraft & Stefanie Neimann, 2009. "Effect of Labor Division between Wife and Husband on the Risk of Divorce: Evidence from German Data," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 223, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp223
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    1. Divorce and labor division in the household
      by Economic Logician in Economic Logic on 2009-12-21 21:39:00

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    Cited by:

    1. Guven, Cahit & Senik, Claudia & Stichnoth, Holger, 2012. "You can’t be happier than your wife. Happiness gaps and divorce," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 82(1), pages 110-130.
    2. Christian Schmitt & Heike Trappe, 2014. "Geschlechterarrangements und Ehestabilität in Ost- und Westdeutschland," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 682, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    3. Baktash, Mehrzad B. & Heywood, John S. & Jirjahn, Uwe, 2023. "Does Performance Pay Increase the Risk of Marital Instability?," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1305, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    4. García-Morán, Eva & Kuehn, Zoe, 2023. "Till mess do us part: Married women's market hours, home production, and divorce," MPRA Paper 119324, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Divorce; labor division; Germany;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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