Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics DRAFT COMMISSION REGULATION ON THE SILC 2010 MODULE ON INTRA-HOUSEHOLD SHARING OF RESOURCES POINT 4.4 22-23 September 2008 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

1. BACKGROUND OF THE PROPOSAL Regulation No 1177/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning EU-SILC Themes of the module for 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 are respectively ‘intergenerational transmission of poverty', ‘social participation', ‘housing conditions', ‘over-indebtedness and financial exclusion' and ‘material deprivation'. The proposed theme for the SILC 2010 module is "intra-household allocation of resources". Aim of the module: Gain policy and research relevant insights into how resources such as income are shared within the household Enrich the information provided by the poverty risk indicators by providing some information on: whether individuals in households have the same standard of living or not how transfers are best targeted to reach the most needy 22-23 September 2008 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

2. DECISION PROCESS Module was developed by a Task Force (TF) composed of: Delegates of the National Statistical Institutes of DK, EE, EL, IT, LU, PL, SE and the UK Three experts in the field (Sophie Ponthieux of INSEE, Professor Danièle Meulders of ULB and Professor Martin Browning of University of Oxford) Representatives of DG.EMPL, units E.2 and G.1 and of the Indicators Subgroup (ISG) of the Social Protection Committee (SPC) Three meetings of the TF (18 February, 14-15 April and 9 July 2008) Working Group on Living Conditions: discussion of the module at the meeting on 9-11 June 2008 and opinion in two written consultations in July/August 2008 The document presented today takes account, as much as possible, of the comments received 22-23 September 2008 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

3. OUTLINE OF THE MODULE The variables of this module are grouped in two categories: Variables on management and decision-making: → 17 variables → All compulsory → Giving a picture of control and power in the household and whether one gender is more favoured i.e. has more say in decisions Variables on the outcome of the allocation process in the household related to time use and individual expenditure → 5 variables → All optional → Giving concrete evidence on the allocation of resources within the household and indeed on poverty of individuals and inequality within the household 22-23 September 2008 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

Variables on management and decision-making: collection unit 3. OUTLINE OF THE MODULE Variables on management and decision-making: collection unit Household for the 6 variables relating to regime and management of household finance Persons aged 16 years old and over living in a household with at least two persons aged 16 years old and over for the 4 variables related to the contribution to common household budget and to other household members' budgets, to access to a bank account, to the ability to decide about expenses Persons aged 16 years old and over living with a couple/partner for the 7 variables related to the decision making (both specific and general) and to the length of cohabitation of the partners 22-23 September 2008 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

3. OUTLINE OF THE MODULE Variables on the outcome of the allocation process in the household related to time use and individual expenditure: collection unit Persons aged 16 years old and over living in a household with at least two persons aged 16 years old and over for the 5 variables related to time use and expenditures 22-23 September 2008 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

4. POSSIBLE ANALYSIS BASED ON THE MODULE Examples of possible uses of the questions: How is power or voice distributed in the household for example in relation to the share of household income the respondent earns or depending on whether the respondent has access to a bank account? Are there persistent gender differences in power or voice in the household? Optional: Computing share of work (paid/ unpaid) by gender, correlation e.g. with decision-making variables. Optional: Are there gender inequalities in the share of leisure or in the share of personal expenditures among household members In a selected respondent model, information is to be aggregated and comparisons, e.g. by gender can be made at aggregate level 22-23 September 2008 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

5. NEXT STEPS Ultimate objective: avoid to have to go to the Council this year Good compromise now reached among Working Group members and support from the majority of the DSS on the variables to be collected but refinements/ additional guidelines needed Proposed next steps: Small scale testing of the new version of the questionnaire (October) in two countries: interview duration + detailed formulation Slightly amended proposal sent for written consultation: To WG To DSS To SPC 22-23 September 2008 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics

Directors of Social Statistics are asked: 6. CONCLUSION Directors of Social Statistics are asked: To give their general support to the draft SILC 2010 module To give their opinion on the proposed way forward, including some small scale testing and written consultations 22-23 September 2008 Meeting of the European Directors of Social Statistics