Intra-family distribution of paid-work time

This article analyses the intra-family distribution of paid-work time in five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK). To that end, we formulate a collective model, which allows us to characterize the efficient labour supply decisions of each spouse. This two-equation model is then simultaneously estimated by using national panel data drawn from the European Community Household Panel-ECHP (1994-2001). Empirical results clearly show that, in all sample countries, the labour supply of wives is affected by own wages, household and own nonlabour incomes and the number of children, whereas evidence for husbands differs across countries.