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Households’ responses to spousal job loss: ‘all change’ or ‘carry on as usual’?

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  • Gush, Karon
  • Laurie, Heather
  • Scott, James

Abstract

Economic theory suggests that when a primary earner within a couple loses their job, one potential response is for the secondary earner to seek additional paid work to bolster their household finances. Yet, the empirical quantitative evidence regarding any such ‘added worker effect’ is mixed. To investigate why this might be, we explore the processes behind household responses to job loss through qualitative interviewing techniques. The findings indicate that the use of additional spousal labour is only one response of many alternatives and typically only invoked in cases of serious financial hardship.

Suggested Citation

  • Gush, Karon & Laurie, Heather & Scott, James, 2013. "Households’ responses to spousal job loss: ‘all change’ or ‘carry on as usual’?," ISER Working Paper Series 2013-13, Institute for Social and Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:ese:iserwp:2013-13
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Lundberg, Shelly, 1985. "The Added Worker Effect," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 3(1), pages 11-37, January.
    6. Paul Bingley & Ian Walker, 2001. "Household Unemployment and the Labour Supply of Married Women," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 68(270), pages 157-186, May.
    7. Crossley, Craig D. & Highhouse, Scott, 2005. "Relation of job search and choice process with subsequent satisfaction," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 255-268, April.
    8. Cullen, Julie Berry & Gruber, Jonathan, 2000. "Does Unemployment Insurance Crowd Out Spousal Labor Supply?," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 18(3), pages 546-572, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Tanja van der Lippe & Judith Treas & Lukas Norbutas, 2018. "Unemployment and the Division of Housework in Europe," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 32(4), pages 650-669, August.
    2. Hélène PÉRIVIER, 2018. "Recession, austerity and gender: A comparison of eight European labour markets," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 157(1), pages 1-37, March.
    3. Hélène Périvier, 2016. "Recession, austerity and gender," Working Papers hal-03459410, HAL.
    4. David Bayliss & Wendy Olsen & Pierre Walthery, 2017. "Well-Being During Recession in the UK," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(2), pages 369-387, June.
    5. Aliya Hamid Rao, 2020. "From Professionals to Professional Mothers: How College-educated Married Mothers Experience Unemployment in the US," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 34(2), pages 299-316, April.
    6. Hélène Périvier, 2016. "Recession, austerity and gender: A Comparison of Eight European Labour Markets," Sciences Po publications 2016-05, Sciences Po.
    7. Jane Elliott & Jon Lawrence, 2016. "The Emotional Economy of Unemployment," SAGE Open, , vol. 6(4), pages 21582440166, December.
    8. Arja Jolkkonen & Pertti Koistinen & Arja Kurvinen & Liudmila Lipiäinen & Tapio Nummi & Pekka Virtanen, 2018. "Labour Market Attachment Following Major Workforce Downsizings: A Comparison of Displaced and Retained Workers," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 32(6), pages 992-1010, December.
    9. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/41isuana4r9csqvq548poclp6e is not listed on IDEAS

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