A comparative analysis of European transfers of time between generations and genders

Emilio Zagheni, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research
Marina Zannella, Università di Roma "La Sapienza"

This study provides estimates of non-monetary transfers between generations and genders, and complements existing work developed by the National Transfer Accounts (NTA) project. We use time use data from the Harmonised European Time Use Survey (HETUS), and the Multinational Time Use Study (MTUS), to evaluate the extent of transfers of time between generations and genders across European countries. We estimate age and sex-specific profiles of time spent in unpaid productive activities (e.g., housework, childcare, care for the elderly). The unpaid working time is then allocated to those age groups that benefit from it (e.g., children for childcare, everybody in the household for housework) in order to estimate age-specific consumption profiles of time. We observe large transfers of time from females to males, and from adults to children and the elderly. Preliminary results indicate that there are similar patterns across countries, but also large variations. For instance, the extent of gender inequality in domestic work is much bigger in southern European countries. As we develop our models, we expect to be able to provide more precise statements on life course differences in household production and consumption, over time and across countries. The estimation of the time spent in activities such as childbearing, and caring for the elderly, allows us to evaluate the strength of intergenerational ties and the extent of incentives and disincentives for particular fertility choices in different social and institutional settings.