Decision making within couples in deprived circumstances concerning major purchases and leisure time activities

Abstract

"This article analyses the division of decision power within couples. Based on data from the second wave of the panel study 'Labour Market and Social Security', the allocation of power between the spouses is studied with special regard to couples receiving the German 'Unemployment Benefit II'. In deprived circumstances, decisions on major purchases are more often made solely by the woman. On the other hand, decisions on leisure time activities among these couples are less often taken by the women alone. Multinomial logistic regressions indicate that the distribution of decision power among couples in receipt of benefits is governed by other factors than among couples without receipt. The influence of the economic resources that both partners contribute is only visible in the non-recipient group. In both groups, modern gender role attitudes are often connected with a more egalitarian decision-making process regarding major purchases. Again for decisions about leisure time activities, this relation can only be found among the non-recipients. Apart from these, we find additional factors influencing the division of decision power, like individuals with low education deciding more egalitarian in the Unemployment Benefit II group." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))

Cite article

Berngruber, A. & Bethmann, A. (2012): Entscheidungsverhalten von Paaren in materiell prekären Lagen über größere Anschaffungen und die Freizeitgestaltung. In: Zeitschrift für Familienforschung, Vol. 24, No. 3, p. 319-343.