published in: D. Hamermesh and G. Pfann (eds), The Economics of Time Use, Contributions to Economic Analysis, No. 271, Chapter 5, 113–145, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2005
We hypothesize that an individual’s time use choices are contingent on the time use choices
of others because the utility derived from leisure time often benefits from the presence of
companionable others inside and outside the household. We develop a model of time use,
and demonstrate that its consistency with the behaviour of British working couples in the
1990s. We present evidence of the synchronisation of working hours by spouses and report
estimates indicating that propensities to engage in associative activity depend on the
availability of Suitable Leisure Companions outside the household. Our results indicate the
importance of externalities in the working time decisions of individuals.
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