Money management and subjective well-being in couples

Abstract

This article analyses how the type of financial organisation within a couple affects the degree of subjective well-being of each of the partners. The hypothesis of female individualism is discussed, based on the different systems of household money management and the theory of individualisation. This hypothesis assumes that the greater the control over money by the woman within the couple is, the greater her subjective well-being will be. The data are drawn from the 2013 Spanish General Social Survey. The findings confirm the main hypothesis by showing that for men, the amount of money they earn determines their subjective well-being, while for women, the way in which the money is managed determines their subjective well-being. These results invite reflection on the relationship between gender equality and the distribution of resources within new forms of couples today.