Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2019: intra-household distribution of resources

Chapter 5 – Conclusions

This report presents findings from the Intra-Household Distribution of Resources module within the 2019 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey. It provides valuable insight into how couples in Scotland organise their income and financial responsibilities, and who in Scottish society is not able to afford basic essentials or take part in leisure activities. 

The findings from this report will not only contribute to the wider policy context on gender equality but will also serve a specific purpose in aiding the development of a new Gender Equality Index. This is being created by the Scottish Government and the findings from this report will provide a set of measures to inform a baseline for the 'money' domain of the new Index. 

The most common way people living with a partner organise their own income is to put all of it, or nearly all of it, into a joint pool and the majority of those living with a partner also organise their income in the same way their partner does. Women are more likely than men to keep all of their own income, while men are more likely than women to put all of it into a joint pool with their partner. Those on lower household incomes, older people, those living with a disability and those who are married are more likely to pool all their income and keep none (or almost none) of it themselves. 

Women are over seven times more likely than men to say that child benefit is paid into their own account, although the most common way child benefit is paid is into a joint account with nearly half saying this was the case. In contrast, men are more likely than women to say that the accommodation they own or rent is in their name only, although around three-quarters of people living together say that their accommodation is owned or rented in both their names. Four-fifths of married couples own or rent their accommodation in joint names compared with only around half of those living with a partner and not married. This suggests that marriage gives couples additional joint responsibilities and financial security compared with those who are living together and not married.

Decisions on how much to spend on larger household items are more often taken by both partners who are living together than decisions on how much to spend on grocery shopping. Women are more likely to make the decisions on how much to spend on groceries than men, while decision-making on large household items is split more or less equally between the two genders, suggesting that a traditional view that the food shopping is a woman's responsibility still persists. Married couples are less likely to say it is usually both partners who make decisions on groceries than those who are living with a partner and not married but are more likely to say that it is usually both partners who make decisions on how much to spend on large household items. 

Around three-fifths said that the money they use for groceries, large household items and unexpected repairs comes from a joint pool. The majority of those who make joint decisions on how much to spend on groceries and large household items and the majority of those who pool at least some of their income also use a joint pool to pay for these items. Men are more likely than women to say that they would usually use their own money to pay for large household items, like a TV or fridge, or for an unexpected repair bill, while women are more likely than men to say they would usually use their partner's money. 

Women are more likely than men to say they are the person responsible for ensuring the household does not live beyond its means, as is the person in the partnership who is responsible for making decisions on household expenditure on groceries or on large household items. Similarly, those who said decisions on purchases are usually made jointly are also more likely than those who said these decisions are usually made by their partner or themselves to say that both partners are usually responsible for ensuring the household does not live beyond its means. 

The majority of the Scottish public do not think a disparity in income within a partnership justifies a disparity in spending on luxuries. Most people thought that a partner earning twice as much as the other partner should not be able to buy more luxuries than the partner who is earning less. Younger people are the most likely to think the higher earning partner should be able to spend more on luxuries and as people get older they become less likely to think that the partner earning more should be able to spend more on luxuries.

Around a fifth of people in Scotland are not able to afford basic essentials, such as a pair of everyday shoes, without first saving up for them, or have had to go with less food than they thought they should due to a lack of money or other resources. A third have not been on a day or night out that cost money in the past fortnight or have stayed in because they could not afford to go out 'very' or 'fairly often'. One in ten people said they did not have a regular hobby or leisure activity because they could not afford to have one.

Those in the lowest income group and those living with a disability are more likely to have said that they have not been able to afford basic essentials or take part in leisure activities on all five measures included in the survey. The unemployed, those living in the most deprived areas, and renters are also more likely to have experienced at least some of these deficits than their counterparts.

Those living with a partner are less likely to be both unable to afford the basic essentials and unable to take part in leisure activities, with those who are single, divorced, separated or widowed being more likely to have gone without food, have had to save up for a pair of shoes and had to limit their leisure activities due to a lack of money. In addition, younger people are significantly more likely than older people to have said that they have gone with less food than they should or would have to save up before being able to buy a pair of everyday shoes. 

The relationship between how income is organised between couples, who makes financial decisions on everyday items or larger, one-off, purchases and the sharing of financial assets is complex, with no one clear pattern emerging. Women are more likely than men to keep all of their own income, are more likely to have child benefit paid to them and make decisions on grocery spending but men are more likely to use their own money to pay for large household items and sudden repairs and more likely to have the accommodation they live in with their partner in their name. Women, however, appear to be taking on more of the responsibility for budgeting within the household as they are more likely than men to say they are responsible for ensuring the household does not live beyond its means. What is clear is that being married rather than living with a partner leads to a greater sharing of financial responsibilities and pooling of resources. Living with a partner, whether married or not, was also shown to be a protective factor in relation to being able to afford basic essentials and leisure activities, whereas those in low income households, such as the unemployed and those living with a disability were significantly more likely to lack access to both essential items and social activities.