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Work from home and household behaviors

Author

Listed:
  • Molina, Jose Alberto
  • Salvatierra, Alba
  • Velilla, Jorge

Abstract

This paper analyzes work from home from a household perspective, focusing on its various relationships with spouses’ wages, household labor supply, expenditures, and chores. We use a collective model that predicts that work-from-home decisions result from joint utility maximization. Using data from the PSID (2011-2021), we find that both partners’ wages and hours are associated with their own and their spouse’s WFH status in pooled specifications, but these associations weaken substantially when accounting for endogeneity and unobserved heterogeneity. Instrumental variable estimates suggest that wage effects are partly driven by occupational sorting, while fixed effects models reveal that changes in WFH status are strongly correlated across spouses but largely unrelated to short-term changes in wages or hours. Implications point to the need for models of remote work that incorporate intra-household dynamics, and to the importance of recognizing WFH as a negotiated outcome rather than an individual choice.

Suggested Citation

  • Molina, Jose Alberto & Salvatierra, Alba & Velilla, Jorge, 2025. "Work from home and household behaviors," MPRA Paper 124906, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:124906
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brandon J. Restrepo & Eliana Zeballos, 2022. "Work from home and daily time allocations: evidence from the coronavirus pandemic," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 735-758, September.
    2. José Ignacio Giménez-Nadal & José Alberto Molina & Jorge Velilla, 2023. "Should We Cheer Together? Gender Differences in Instantaneous Well-being: An Application to COVID-19 Lockdowns," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 529-562, February.
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    6. Alexandros Theloudis & Jorge Velilla & Pierre-André Chiappori & José Ignacio Giménez-Nadal & José Alberto Molina, 2025. "Commitment and the Dynamics of Household Labour Supply," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 135(665), pages 354-386.
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    13. Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia & Victoria Vernon, 2023. "Who is doing the chores and childcare in dual-earner couples during the COVID-19 era of working from home?," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 519-565, June.
    14. José Ignacio Giménez-Nadal & José Alberto Molina & Jorge Velilla, 2025. "Work from home, time allocation, and well-being: the impact of lockdowns," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 505-549, June.
    15. Pierre-Andre Chiappori & Bernard Fortin & Guy Lacroix, 2002. "Marriage Market, Divorce Legislation, and Household Labor Supply," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 110(1), pages 37-72, February.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Soler, Víctor, 2025. "Teletrabajo y bienestar de los trabajadores en Finlandia [Telework and Workers’ Well-Being in Finland]," MPRA Paper 126985, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Eizaguerri Floris, Maria, 2026. "Teletrabajo en Suecia: impacto en bienestar, depresión y balance vida personal-trabajo [Teleworking in Sweden: Impacts on well-being, depression, and work–life balance]," MPRA Paper 127673, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Alba, Salvatierra & Jorge, Velilla & Antonio, Gutiérrez-Lythgoe & Raquel, Ortega-Lapiedra, 2025. "Work from home and household behavior: Theoretical modelling and results for the United States," MPRA Paper 126983, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Gracia Velilla, Sara, 2026. "Análisis de los efectos del teletrabajo sobre el bienestar: Evidencia para Polonia [Analysis of the effects of teleworking on well-being: Evidence for Poland]," MPRA Paper 127621, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Mateos Cendrero, Juan Diego, 2026. "Teletrabajo y bienestar tras la pandemia: evidencia para la República Checa [Telecommuting and well-being after the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence for the Czech Republic]," MPRA Paper 127773, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • D79 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Other
    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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