Time to Eat: Household Production under Increasing Income Inequality |
| |
Authors: | Daniel S Hamermesh |
| |
Institution: | Daniel S. Hamermesh, Edward Everett Hale Centennial Professor of Economics, University of Texas at Austin, research associate, NBER, and program director, IZA. |
| |
Abstract: | Using time diaries and expenditure data for the United States for 1985 and 2003, I examine how income and time prices affect time and goods inputs into eating. Both inputs increase with income, and higher time prices reduce time inputs. Between 1985 and 2003 the goods intensity of eating increased, especially lower in the income distribution, and average time inputs dropped, particularly time spent shopping, preparing, and cleaning up after meals. The results are consistent with relatively difficult goods-time substitution in eating that becomes more difficult as household production expands. |
| |
Keywords: | household production inequality time use |
|
|