| Abstract: |
Gender gaps in labor supply and household responsibilities persist. Using
representative survey data from 24, 000 respondents across 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 state they prefer an
equitable division of tasks within the household. At the same time, 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 are positively associated with respondents’ own preferences for
couple equity. Providing respondents with truthful information about the
actual share of men preferring couple equity in their country 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. |