Teodora Boneva, University of Bonn

Are men’s preferences for couple equity misperceived? Evidence from six countries

Abstract

Using representative survey data from six countries, this paper explores the actual and perceived preferences of men for couple equity. We document that in all six countries the majority of men states they prefer an equitable division of tasks within the household. The actual share of men preferring couple equity is systematically underestimated in all six countries.

The perceived shares vary substantially across the population, and they positively predict own preferences for couple equity. Providing respondents with truthful information about the actual share of men preferring couple equity shifts individual beliefs, own stated preferences for couple equity, as well as the willingness to pay for it. The estimated treatment effects are mainly driven by respondents who initially underestimated the actual share.

(Joint work with A. Bras-Monteiro, M. Golin and C. Rauh).

Teodora Boneva is Professor of Applied Microeconomics at the Department of Economics at the University of Bonn and a Cluster Faculty Member of ECONtribute.

Her research interests include inequality and climate change. I collect novel data and use a variety of different research methods such as field experiments and survey-based techniques. She was awarded an ERC Starting Grant to study questions related to gender inequality.

Before joining the University of Bonn, she was Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics and the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development at the University of Zurich, and Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford and Tutorial Fellow at Hertford College. Teodora obtained my PhD in Economics from the University of Cambridge.

You can read more about Teodora Boneva here

CEBI contact: Christina Gravert