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Gender identity, preference, and relative income within households

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  • Zhao, Yucong
  • Ye, Bing
  • Shi, Jinchuan

Abstract

In this paper, we empirically study the impact of gender identity on wives' relative income within households in China and find that a husband's and a wife's traditional gender identity statistically significantly and negatively affect the wife's relative income in the household. The heterogeneous effects of gender identity for different residence types, education levels, and age groups are also studied. Supporting empirical evidence is explored for the preference mechanism that couples with traditional gender identities are more averse to having a wife who earns more than her husband. We also find that a husband earns less if the husband or the wife has a traditional gender identity.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhao, Yucong & Ye, Bing & Shi, Jinchuan, 2022. "Gender identity, preference, and relative income within households," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:71:y:2022:i:c:s1043951x21001590
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101741
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kunxi Nie & Yueji Zhu, 2025. "Internet access, female’s non-farm employment, and income effects: insights from China," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 13(1), pages 1-29, December.
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    6. Zhijie Zhang & Qingqing Zong, 2023. "Gender diversity and patent quality: Evidence from Chinese patent data," International Studies of Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(4), pages 430-453, December.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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