Abstract
We propose an improved method to assess the economic value of unpaid housework
and childcare. Existing literature has typically assigned a minimum, generalist or
specialist’s wage, or the performer’s opportunity cost to the hourly value of these
activities. Then it was used to calculate macro-level value based on the number of
hours spent in this work. In this paper, instead of imputing an average or minimum
wage for housework and childcare to determine a value to the work, we use the actual
local wage rate requested for these services from providers on online platforms.
Applying this method to Austrian Time Use Survey data shows that the value of
unpaid childcare and housework, had it been paid, would be equivalent to about 22%
of the 2018 GDP.
and childcare. Existing literature has typically assigned a minimum, generalist or
specialist’s wage, or the performer’s opportunity cost to the hourly value of these
activities. Then it was used to calculate macro-level value based on the number of
hours spent in this work. In this paper, instead of imputing an average or minimum
wage for housework and childcare to determine a value to the work, we use the actual
local wage rate requested for these services from providers on online platforms.
Applying this method to Austrian Time Use Survey data shows that the value of
unpaid childcare and housework, had it been paid, would be equivalent to about 22%
of the 2018 GDP.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Review of Economics of the Household |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |