Social Class Differences in Parental Time with Children: Cross-National Variation

Liana C. Sayer, University of Pennsylvania
Anne H. Gauthier, University of Calgary
Frank Furstenberg, University of Pennsylvania

Parental investments in children are an important indicator of children?s present and future well-being. Research suggests that in the United States higher SES parents invest more and spend time differently with their children than do lower SES parents. The effect of parental SES and time investments in children may vary cross-nationally, however, because of macro-level differences in the provision of state-funded programs designed to equalize resources for nurturing and development children across families. We analyze time-diary data from five Western industrialized nations to determine if the effect of SES on two indicators of parental time with children varies cross-nationally. We strategically select countries to be representative of different types of welfare regimes. The results offer new empirical assessments of the effect of SES on parental time with children and shed insight on relevant policy issues.