FEMALE HOUSEHOLD INVESTMENT STRATEGY IN HUMAN AND NONHUMAN CAPITAL WITH THE RISK OF DIVORCE

It is shown that a female investment strategy in human and non-human c apital where a woman intends to take time out of the paid labour marke t for childcare is consistent with traditional gender roles in marriag e. However, this is not the case in an environment of marital instabil ity. As marital stability has decreased in recent years it should be e xpected that both gender roles and female investment strategy should a lso have changed. Yet traditional gender roles appear to be more persi stent than would be expected. A qualitative survey of decision-making in families undertaken in Exeter, England, appears to support this fin ding. One result of following traditional gender roles where the risk of marital instability is high is that women may become vulnerable and suffer considerably in economic terms following separation or divorce . This may imply scope for radical reform of marriage and divorce and also better strategies for female investment in human and non-human ca pital.