When Family Property Becomes Individual Property: Intrahousehold Property Ownership and Women's Well-Being in China

Abstract

Objective: This study examines the impact of the 2011 judicial interpretation to the Chinese Marriage Law, which altered property rights, on the well-being of husbands and wives. Background: Although the focus on macro-level gender inequality continues, relatively few studies have focused on intrahousehold gender inequality in China. Method: Using data from the China Family Panel Studies (80,162 observations of 22,541 individuals), a nationally representative survey of Chinese households, this study uses a difference-in-differences strategy to compare the outcomes of spouses in households where only the husband's name is on the deed with those where the spouses have equal homeownership status. Results: In the short term, the 2011 judicial interpretation to the Marriage Law led to diminished well-being for women in a typical Chinese household where the deed to the marital home is in the husband's name only. However, in the long term, the adverse effect for women weakened, which is likely because couples turned to adaptive behaviors more in line with premarital agreements and traditional practices, nullifying any effects caused by the reform. No significant effects of the reform were found for men living households where only the wife's name is on the deed. Conclusion: This study demonstrates how a seemingly gender-neutral policy can generate gendered consequences. It is therefore critical that policy makers consider the implications of intrahousehold inequality.