Home Behavioral Economics: Family and Work Decisions in the United States and Norway

Abstract

Stay at home fathers are a growing group in American society. However, most research has focused on the quality of care provided by stay at home fathers, rather than the decision making which determines which parent stays home. We sought to investigate this by attempting to put a price tag on maternal care versus paternal care while examining the potential effects of nationality and social support on that price tag. We collected data from 240 participants in the United States and 250 from Norway via online survey. Participants were asked how much a mother needs to earn to allow her husband to stay at home to provide childcare and how much a father needs to earn to allow his wife to stay at home and provide childcare, in addition to items to assess gender roles attitudes. No effect of social support was found, but Norwegians were slightly more likely than Americans to place a heavier earning burden on the husband. There were few differences in gender role attitudes by nationality. The impact of public policy and social desirability on the results are discussed.