| Description |
In the United States, poverty has traditionally been defined by income thresholds set by the federal government, but this measure fails to account for the multidimensional nature of economic well-being. Building on feminist economic theory, this paper examines the concept of time poverty, which recognizes the significant role that time-beyond income-plays in maintaining household function. Using American Time Use Survey data from 2018-2023, the paper explores time poverty rates in the United States by race and gender, aiming to provide a more comprehensive understanding of economic disadvantage in the US. Employing two distinct measurements to quantify time poverty, I construct linear probability models that estimate the role gender and race play in the likelihood of being time poor. The results indicate that race is notably related to time poverty, with Black individuals being more likely to experience time poverty, particularly Black women. The findings suggest that time poverty is a crucial, yet underexplored, aspect of economic disadvantage, with implications for policies such as parental leave and childcare subsidies. |
