Family‐type public goods and intra‐household decision‐making by co‐resident South African couples

Abstract

The current study examines sources of bargaining power that inform financial decision‐making processes within co‐resident couples and determines how bargaining power and decision‐making impact on family‐type public goods expenditure. The study uses South Africa's National Income Dynamics Study, which offers a direct measure of financial decision‐making responsibility. In terms of analysis, probit regression models are used to establish socioeconomic determinants of decision‐making for female partners in co‐resident couples, while ordinary least squares linear regression models are employed to determine the extent to which financial decision‐making responsibility and power influence expenditure on family‐type public goods by households. There is evidence of the relevance of economic factors in explaining financial decision‐making as postulated by the resource theory. Households with wives who gain a decision‐making role spend more on family‐type public goods. The findings suggest that policy has to focus on gender mainstreaming and empowerment, which would enhance the decision‐making role of women within co‐resident couples.

The Role of Socio-Economic Factors in Determining the Women Bargaining Power in Pakistan

“…Female with more land / assets have more authority in household. Guvuriro and Booysen (2018) examine the elements of the intra household decision making power and responsibilities the women of the South African couples. In this study they also show the impact of the financial decision making and bargaining power on the household goods and their spending on them.…”