RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Juggling Priorities
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0125-14032R2
DO 10.3368/jhr.0125-14032R2
A1 Ahn, So Yoon
A1 Koh, Yu Kyung
YR 2026
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2026/06/01/jhr.0125-14032R2.abstract
AB How do women’s relative labor market opportunities affect consumption patterns for married couples? While higher potential wages can enhance women’s bargaining power, shifting consumption toward their preferences, they may increase work hours, altering time constraints and spending. Using exogenous gender-specific wages and scanner data, we find higher female relative wages increase spending on convenience foods and decrease spending on fresh produce, contributing to higher obesity rates. This is primarily driven by women’s time reallocation given their disproportionate domestic responsibilities. Our findings suggest that the impacts of earned female income may differ from those of unearned income found in previous studies.