decision making

Question 1

what did Hardill et al (1997) say about financial decision making?

Answer 1

• in dual earner households, men are still most likely to influence financial decision-making

Question 2

what did Pahl (2008) say about financial decision-making?

Answer 2

• growth of separate finances for men and women compared with earlier research that suggested male-dominated pooling was most common
• gender pay gap influences the financial power that men and women have through individualised accounts

Question 3

what decision making can be made around child-rearing?

Answer 3

• decisions on children and childcare are more likely to be joint - Treas and Tao (2011) found 75% of couples made joint decisions on bringing up children
• women are more likely to reduce employment to fit in with demands of childcare and this reinforces the decision-making process
• responsibility for childcare and child-rearing impacts on women’s career progression - Gatrell (2004) women’s financial power reduced after having children

Question 4

what can be said about day-today decision-making?

Answer 4

• women will tend to have dominance over day-to-day decisions according to Edgell
• Hardill et al (1997) more equal relationships but minor decisions were left down to women (more time)
• men less likely to do food shopping alone than women, although almost half of couples surveyed did it jointly (ONS 2016)

Question 5

what can be said about decision-making around housing?

Answer 5

• men are more likely to set budgets for housing based upon their financial position and employment status
• Pahl (2008) the higher financial status of men means they are more dominant in decisions on housing purchases
• Edgell (1980) women are more likely to make decisions about smaller home purchases, such as furnishings and decoration - outdated - men have embraced more creativity and it is dependent on current circumstance of relationship

Question 6

evaluations on decision making?

Answer 6

• Vogler et al (2007) greater independence of women in relationships has led to increased power in decision making
• individual finances provide greater possibility for negotiation on finances, however, men have more financial power than women and are less likely to face reduction due to childcare responsibility
• increased financial power of women has led to greater equality in decision making in -dual-earner households