Labor complementarities and health in the agricultural household

Arbeitspapier

Models of the agricultural household have traditionally relied on assumptions regarding the complementarity or substitutability of family labor inputs. We show how data on time allocations, health shocks and corresponding treatment choices can be used to test these assumptions. Data from Tanzania provide evidence that complementarities exist and can explain the pattern of labor supply adjustments across household members and productive activities following acute sickness. In particular, we find that sick and healthy household members both shift labor away from self-employment and into farming when the sick recover more quickly. Infra-marginal adjustments within farming activity types provide further evidence of farm-specific complementarities.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Center Discussion Paper ; No. 996

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Health: General ; Time Allocation and Labor Supply ; Agricultural Labor Markets ; Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
• Subject: intra-household allocation ; health shocks ; complementarity

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Adhvaryu, Achyuta ; Nyshadham, Anant
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Yale University, Economic Growth Center
• (where): New Haven, CT
• (when): 2011

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/59140
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET