Who bears the burden of childcare work, and how does it vary by gender, income, education, and family structure? Use time-use data to examine disparities in unpaid childcare labor and explore how these patterns relate to employment outcomes and wage gaps. Consider differences between single and partnered parents, or between families of different socioeconomic backgrounds.
Key datasets: IPUMS-ATUS (childcare time variables, demographics, employment status)
Eldercare responsibilities fall unevenly across society. Explore gender, racial, and economic disparities in who provides care for aging family members—both within households and across distances. How do these caregiving responsibilities affect labor force participation and earnings?
Key datasets: IPUMS-ATUS (eldercare time variables, demographic and employment data)
What is the economic value of unpaid childcare work? Calculate opportunity costs by combining time-use data with wage information.
Key datasets: IPUMS-ATUS (childcare time, wages), BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Eldercare often goes unmeasured in economic statistics, yet it represents substantial unpaid labor. Estimate the economic value of informal eldercare by calculating opportunity costs or comparing to market rates for home health aides and nursing care. How much unpaid eldercare is being provided annually?
Key datasets: IPUMS-ATUS (eldercare time, wages), BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
Who is caring for both children and elderly relatives? Examine the time allocation, employment patterns, and economic strain faced by "sandwich generation" caregivers.
Key datasets: IPUMS-ATUS (combined childcare and eldercare variables)
Do caregivers face penalties or reduced employment opportunities? Compare economic outcomes between those with and without caregiving responsibilities.
Key datasets: IPUMS-ATUS(caregiving time, employment status, earnings)
How does caregiving time and its economic impact vary across regions? Why?
Key datasets: IPUMS-ATUS (metropolitan area identifiers, caregiving time, wages)
How do caregiving responsibilities vary by educational level?
Key datasets: IPUMS-ATUS (education variables, caregiving variables)