Estimation of labour supply models for four separate groups in the Australian population

Abstract

This paper estimates discrete choice models of labour supply for couples, single men, single women and sole parents in Australia using the Income and Housing Costs Survey of 1994/1995, 1995/1996, 996/1997 and 1997/1998. These models are estimated to serve as input in a microsimulation model, where they generate the behavioural responses to policy changes. The results are according to expectations, with preferences for work being higher for people with higher education, who are in their thirties. Furthermore, for women the presence of young children decreases the preference for work. Expected labour supply, predicted by using the estimated models, results in values close to the observed average.