Time Use Trends and Reallocation Decisions: An Exploration Using the American Time Use Survey Open Access

Abstract

This thesis looks at time use data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS). The ATUS tracks how many hours each day a person spends on a particular activity. The years this data has been recorded are 2003 to 2022, excluding 2020 and 2021. With this data, there are a couple of research objectives. It will track trends in time use over time. It will look at how lost work hours are reallocated. These objectives will also be done with respect to demographic groups like gender and generation. The analysis of reallocation decisions is done using Ordinary Least Square regressions. The data that will be used in this regression is a panel dataset at the state year level with first differencing. A finding of interest is that reallocation decisions change over time, for example, there is a higher preference to reallocate time to education in 2009 and 2010. Another interesting result is that there are increases in leisure time use for the American population between 2003 and 2022. Additionally, Baby Boomers reallocate more of their lost work hours to nonmarket work than Millennials or Generation X. Understanding these reallocation preferences can be incorporated into models of welfare loss from reduced work hours.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Literature and Motivation 3

Data 10

Methodology 14

Trend Analysis 18

Gender Differences 19

Generational Differences 24

Aggregate Tables 24

Regression Analysis 32

Base Results 32

Extensive and Intensive Margin Results 34

Period Results 36

Gender Subset Results 38

Generational Subset Results 40

Conclusion 42

Appendix 43

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Economics
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Economics, General
Keyword	Time Use
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Karbownik, Chris, Emory University
Committee Members	Mialon, Sue, Emory University Romano, Teresa , Emory University

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