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Detecting Mother-Father Differences in Spending on Children: A New Approach Using Willingness-to-Pay Elicitation

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  • Rebecca Dizon-Ross
  • Seema Jayachandran

Abstract

This paper tests whether mothers and fathers differ in their spending on daughters relative to sons by comparing their willingness to pay (WTP) for specific goods for their children. This method, which we apply in Uganda, offers more precision than the standard method of examining expenditure effects of mothers' versus fathers' income. We find that fathers have a lower WTP for their daughters' than their sons' human capital but mothers do not. Altruism plays a role: fathers' but not mothers' WTP for goods that simply bring joy to their daughters is lower than their WTP for such goods for sons.

Suggested Citation

  • Rebecca Dizon-Ross & Seema Jayachandran, 2023. "Detecting Mother-Father Differences in Spending on Children: A New Approach Using Willingness-to-Pay Elicitation," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 5(4), pages 445-459, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aerins:v:5:y:2023:i:4:p:445-59
    DOI: 10.1257/aeri.20220159
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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