#2022-031 Multitasking
Angelica Zaiceva
This chapter reviews economic studies on multitasking in household
production. Whereas multitasking or task juggling in the workplace has
been analyzed more widely, economic literature on multitasking in a
household is relatively scarce. The chapter first provides relevant
measures of such multitasking activities, discusses time diary data, and
presents some empirical facts employing Harmonized European Time Use
Survey data. It then reviews theoretical and empirical contributions to
this topic, focusing on childcare, food consumption, and remote work. It
also reviews the determinants of multitasking and identifies the factors
that are more likely to affect these activities. In addition, it
discusses multitasking by certain groups, such as ethnic minorities and
children. Finally, it offers policy implications and suggestions for
future research.
Keywords: household production, multitasking, simultaneous activities,
time use
JEL Classification: D13, J22, J16