Social norms
Social norms are another important factor, although these are particularly hard to measure and therefore to test empirically. The residual gap that remains after controlling for job myanmar rcs data characteristics of both partners, as well as the number of children and age of youngest child, may be an indication that social norms are at play. pressures related to looking after children on a ‘breadwinner status’, which may have been translated into higher furlough rates for women.
Preferences
Alternatively, the remaining gaps may reflect preferences. Women may have chosen to be furloughed because, facing the choice between paid work or the conditions offered under the furlough scheme (not working while still receiving 80 percent of their pay), they may have simply preferred the latter. This notion is particularly difficult to test empirically. Even if we had data on expressed preferences in our survey, these may still reflect internalised social norms, concerns about countering social expectations or the reputational consequences of deviating from prescribed behaviours.