Discussion Papers

q,f Mich:t\'g,afi and thro,ugh ,funds granted to the Institute for Research on fFqverty,"'at· the-University of Wisconsin-Madison pursuant to the provisions " of the' Economic <ppportunity Act of 1964. The opinions expressed and any erro;rs' are the responsibility of the author. ' " This study is an investigation of the extended properties of income-leisure preference structures. The methodology centers on preference maps 'composed o:f income consumption curves. These maps are both the basis fora flexible estimation fQrJD. ?:nd a. cleyice for_dirE:c't: interpJ;'etation of the preference structure revealed by the estimates. The properties of preference maps are categorized into three basic dimensions that are useful in differentiating among the preference structures implied by previously estimated labor supply models and that provide a framework for statistical testing of hypotheses about functional form. Estimates are obtained for a subpopulation of prime-age married males who were free to reveal their preferences through unconstrained choices on well-defined opportunity sets. Marginal wage rates, including overtime premiums, were directly reported and were adjusted for increasing marginal income tax rates. The estimates indicate that representative preferences for this subpopulation may be closely approximated by a parallel preference structure similar to those implicit in models. suggest satiety or near-satiety with leisure at a level of work hours not far below standard full time work.