For worse? Financial hardships and intra-household resource allocation among Australian couples

This article investigates differences in husbands' and wives' experiences of financial hardships. It develops estimates a structural collective household model expenditures on individual-specific necessities hardship reporting where each partner has distinct preferences the makes Pareto efficient decisions. Using data from Household, Income, Labour Dynamics Australia Survey with unique questions individual hardships, we examine whether preferences, bargaining power, or other characteristics within households affect distribution Wives our report more hardships than husbands. Estimates indicate that wives have weaker husbands for necessary goods themselves, but there is no evidence power. further increase number children spouses' disability status decrease spouses’ ages subjective capabilities.