Are Men's Preferences for Couple Equity Misperceived? Evidence from Six Countries

94 Pages Posted: 6 Dec 2024 Last revised: 7 May 2025

See all articles by Teodora Boneva

Teodora Boneva

University College London - Department of Economics

Ana Brás-Monteiro

University of Zurich

Marta Golin

University of Zurich

Christopher Rauh

University of Cambridge - Cambridge-INET Institute

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.

Keywords: subjective expectations, pluralistic ignorance, identity, norms, couple equity, parental labor supply

JEL Classification: J22, J13, I26

Suggested Citation

Boneva, Teodora and Brás-Monteiro, Ana and Golin, Marta and Rauh, Christopher, Are Men's Preferences for Couple Equity Misperceived? Evidence from Six Countries. IZA Discussion Paper No. 17493, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5046038

Teodora Boneva (Contact Author)

University College London - Department of Economics ( email )

Drayton House
30 Gordon Street
London, WC1H 0AX
United Kingdom

Ana Brás-Monteiro

University of Zurich ( email )

Rämistrasse 71
Zürich, CH-8006
Switzerland

Marta Golin

University of Zurich ( email )

Rämistrasse 71
Zürich, CH-8006
Switzerland

Christopher Rauh

University of Cambridge - Cambridge-INET Institute ( email )

Sidgwick Avenue
Cambridge, CB3 9DD
United Kingdom

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