Intra-household decision-making and family public goods: survey and experimental evidence from South Africa
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Date
Jan-17
Authors
Guvuriro, Sevias
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
Afrikaans: Besluitneming binne huishoudings is belangrik ten einde verskeie ontwikkelingsdoelwitte te bereik, ingesluit investering in familie openbare goedere en die gepaardgaande ontwikkelings uitkomste, soos die verkryging van opleiding, beter gesondheid en algehele welsyn van families. Die verwesenliking van hierdie ontwikkelingsimpakte van investering in familie openbare goedere vereis ‘n behoorlike begrip van gender dinamika, ekonomiese bemagtiging en samewerking tussen generasies in die neem van besluite binne huishoudings. Hierdie tesis stel ten doel om die rol van intra-huishoudingsbesluitneming in investering in familie openbare goedere in Suid-Afrika vas te stel. Die studie gebruik data van ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse opname en voer ‘n veldeksperiment in twee arm gemeenskappe uit. Beskrywende statistiese ontledings is aangewend om verwantskappe tussen sleutelveranderlikes te bestudeer. Regressie analise is gebruik vir verdere in-diepte ontledings. Die eerste sleutelbevinding van hierdie studie dui spesifiek op die nodigheid van geslagsgebaseerde ekonomiese bemagtigingsbeleid. Die studie bevind dat geslagsongelykheid binne pare (heterogamie) en die breër bevolking van volwassenes steeds ‘n realiteit is. Alhoewel die finansiële en ekonomiese besluitnemersrol deur vroue oorheers word, bly hul rol hoofsaaklik ondergeskik, ‘n verdere teken van geslagsongelykheid. Wanneer vroue egter ekonomies bemagtig word, neem hul besluitnemingsgesag toe en gelyktydig soook uitgawes op familie openbare goedere. Selfs wanneer vroue slegs bemagtig word met besluitnemingsgesag, maar nie ook ekonomies nie, word steeds meer op familie openbare goedere spandeer. ‘n Tweede bevinding daarteenoor staan ook in die algemeen ekonomiese ontwikkelingsbeleid voor. Die studie bevind dat ekonomies bemagtigde mans meer spandeer op familie openbare goedere en dat hul verantwoordelikheid vir ekonomiese besluitneming aan hul vrouens delegeer, wie ook meer op familie openbare goedere spandeer. Die derde resultaat wat in hierdie studie waargeneem is, die skenkingseffek, is belangrik vir beleid gegewe dat die voordeel van ‘n ekonomiese geleentheid vir een familielid, hetsy in die vorm van ‘n werksgeleentheid of ontvangs van ‘n maatskaplike toelaag, na ander familielede kan afwentel. Laastens, bepaal die studie dat kommunikasie ‘n positiewe impak op samewerking tussen generasies binne uitgebreide families het, en dat gesamentlike besluitneming, wat geassosieer word met groter uitgawes op voedsel, kommunikasie vereis ten einde samewerking te weeg te bring. Beleidsgewys, plaas hierdie bevinding die fokus op voorkomende en ontwikkelingsgebaseerde maatskaplike werkprogramme wat kommunikasie binne families kan bevorder, insluitend opleiding in ouerskaps- en huweliksvaardighede.
English: Intra-household decisions are of importance in achieving various development goals, including investments in family public goods and the resultant developmental outcomes of such investments, such as the attainment of education, improved health, and general family well-being. The realisation of the development impacts of investments in family public goods requires a proper understanding of gender dynamics, economic empowerment, and intergenerational cooperation in intra-household decision-making. This thesis aims to determine the role of intra-household decision-making in family public goods investments in South Africa. The study employs South African survey data and conducts a framed field experiment in two poor communities. Descriptive statistical analyses are employed to investigate associations between key variables. In-depth analysis is conducted with the aid of regression analysis. The first key finding in this study calls specifically for gender-based economic empowerment policies. The study finds that gender inequality in economic bargaining power within couples (heterogamy) and the broader adult population persists. Whereas women dominate the role of financial and economic decision-maker, they do so mainly as secondary decision-makers; another sign of gender inequality. However, when women are empowered economically, their decision-making power increases, and concomitantly, expenditure on family public goods. In fact, even when they are not economically empowered, expenditure on family public goods increases when females wield the decision-making power. The second finding argues more broadly for economic development policies and posits that economically empowered men spend more on family public goods, and delegate economic decision-making responsibility to their spouses, who in turn spend more on family public goods. In the third instance, the endowment size effect observed in this study is important for policy, given that the benefit of an economic opportunity for one family member of earning a wage or receiving a social grant, cascades to other family members. The final finding is that communication impacts positively on cooperation within extended inter-generational families, and that joint decision-making; which is associated with greater expenditure on food; requires communication to facilitate cooperation. This result calls for preventative and developmental social work programmes focusing on promoting communication within families, including training on parenting as well as marriage skills.
English: Intra-household decisions are of importance in achieving various development goals, including investments in family public goods and the resultant developmental outcomes of such investments, such as the attainment of education, improved health, and general family well-being. The realisation of the development impacts of investments in family public goods requires a proper understanding of gender dynamics, economic empowerment, and intergenerational cooperation in intra-household decision-making. This thesis aims to determine the role of intra-household decision-making in family public goods investments in South Africa. The study employs South African survey data and conducts a framed field experiment in two poor communities. Descriptive statistical analyses are employed to investigate associations between key variables. In-depth analysis is conducted with the aid of regression analysis. The first key finding in this study calls specifically for gender-based economic empowerment policies. The study finds that gender inequality in economic bargaining power within couples (heterogamy) and the broader adult population persists. Whereas women dominate the role of financial and economic decision-maker, they do so mainly as secondary decision-makers; another sign of gender inequality. However, when women are empowered economically, their decision-making power increases, and concomitantly, expenditure on family public goods. In fact, even when they are not economically empowered, expenditure on family public goods increases when females wield the decision-making power. The second finding argues more broadly for economic development policies and posits that economically empowered men spend more on family public goods, and delegate economic decision-making responsibility to their spouses, who in turn spend more on family public goods. In the third instance, the endowment size effect observed in this study is important for policy, given that the benefit of an economic opportunity for one family member of earning a wage or receiving a social grant, cascades to other family members. The final finding is that communication impacts positively on cooperation within extended inter-generational families, and that joint decision-making; which is associated with greater expenditure on food; requires communication to facilitate cooperation. This result calls for preventative and developmental social work programmes focusing on promoting communication within families, including training on parenting as well as marriage skills.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D. (Economics))--University of the Free State, 2017
Keywords
Finance, Personal, Finance -- Decision making -- Economics, Economic development, Income distribution, Home economics -- Accounting, Domestic relations, Intergenerational relations