Abstract WP17-06

Time Use and Gender in Colombia

B. Piedad Urdinola and Jorge A. Tovar

NTA Working Paper 17-06

February 2017

JEL No. J16, J70, J780

ABSTRACT

This paper studies the use of time distribution between paid and unpaid activities across age and gender in Colombia’s households. Using the National Time Transfer Account methodology, we generate age profiles for paid and unpaid activities, as well as household time produced, consumed and transferred per gender. We find that male devote more time to labor market activities, leisure, and sleep. Women, in contrast, dedicate disproportionately more time to unpaid domestic housework, particularly childcare. There is not a significant gender gap in time consumed. Time use gender differentials are core to decisions on issues such as labor market participation and with it the accompanying social security contributions easing future access to pension benefits. These long-term effects have a critical macro impact in an aging society.

Keywords: Time Use, Unpaid Domestic Work, Childcare, Gender Gap, Colombia

B. Piedad Urdinola
Associate Professor. Department of Statistics, Universidad Nacional de Colombia-Bogotá 
Email: bpurdinolac@unal.edu.co

Jorge A. Tovar
Associate Professor. Department of Economics, Universidad de los Andes (Bogotá)
Email: jtovar@uniandes.edu.co
http://economia.uniandes.edu.co/tovar