Happily Under-Insured Ever After? The Role of Beliefs in Household Specialization [13.10.26]
Lecture by Michaela Slotwinski (University of Neuchâtel und University of Zurich) in the Hohenheim Research Seminar in Economics, October 21
Image: Pixabay/Tumisu
Michaela Slotwinski is an applied microeconomist working in public, labor, and gender economics. Her research examines how public policies, social norms, and beliefs shape economic decisions, with a particular focus on household specialization and gender inequality in the labor market.
Her paper establishes a causal link between women’s beliefs around separation and their labor market investment choices. We randomly shift beliefs about the risks of divorce in a large-scale field experiment with Swiss female teachers who are mothers and currently in a relationship. Our study population is generally optimistic about own divorce risk and has limited knowledge of the legal regulations governing separation. The intervention, delivered via a documentary-style video with real protagonists, aims to make both the possibility and consequences of separation relatable. The treatment increases women’s insurance against the risks of separation both along financial and employment margins. Treated women are 55% more likely to sign up for an incentivized savings tool that allows users to assess compensation payments within the couple, and plan to work more in the future. One year after the intervention, treated women have reduced their level of specialization: they increase work hours by 2.5% as measured in administrative records of the employer. Women with low levels of insurance against separation at baseline adjust their hours upwards by 6.6% relative to the control group mean.
In the winter term, excellent international scientists visit the University of Hohenheim in the research seminar and give lectures on their research. In addition to attending the lecture, there is often a special opportunity during office hours to exchange ideas with the guest, e.g. about their own research approaches.
Master's students are also welcome to take part in the research seminar and talk to the speakers as well as the doctoral students, postdocs and professors at the department.
The lecture will take place on October 21, 2026 at 12:00 pm in HS 35 (Kavaliershaus).
