Gender differences in time allocation contribute to differences in developmental outcomes in children and adolescents. A new GLO Discussion Paper by GLO Fellow Ha Nguyen and colleagues.

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A new GLO Discussion Paper finds that females spend more time on personal care, chores and educational activities and less time on physical and media related activities. These gaps appear at very young ages and widen over time. 

GLO Discussion Paper No. 1029, 2022

Gender differences in time allocation contribute to differences in developmental outcomes in children and adolescents – Download PDF
by Nguyen, Ha Trong & Brinkman, Sally & Le, Huong Thu & Zubrick, Stephen R. & Mitrou, Francis

GLO Fellow Ha Nguyen

Ha Nguyen

Author Abstract: Using over 50 thousand time-use diaries from two cohorts of children, we document significant gender differences in time allocation in the first 16 years in life. Relative to males, females spend more time on personal care, chores and educational activities and less time on physical and media related activities. These gender gaps in time allocation appear at very young ages and widen overtime. We provide novel evidence that gender differentials in time investment are quantitatively important in explaining a female advantage in most cognitive and non-cognitive skills. Moreover, gender disparity in educational time outside of school is the most important factor contributing to gender test score gaps and its contribution is more pronounced for higher performing students. By contrast, gender differences in media time are the main factor explaining gender gaps in non-cognitive skills. As children age, gender differences in time allocation play an increasing role in explaining gender gaps in both cognitive and non-cognitive skills.

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GLO Discussion Papers are research and policy papers of the GLO Network which are widely circulated to encourage discussion. Provided in cooperation with EconStor, a service of the ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, GLO Discussion Papers are among others listed in RePEc (see IDEAS,  EconPapers). Complete list of all GLO DPs – downloadable for free.

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