A study by the National Statistics Institute (INEGI) based on 2010 data calculated that routine work done in the home (almost 80% of the time-value involved by women) is worth about 2.9 trillion pesos to the Mexican economy each year, equivalent to more than 20% of Mexico’s GDP. By way of comparison, manufacturing accounts for 17.2% of GDP, and commerce 15% of GDP.
- The INEGI study is Cuenta satélite del trabajo no remunerado de los hogares de México.
The INEGI calculation includes the costs in time/labor needed to meet the demands of the home, and the net salary that would be paid for someone undertaking those tasks.
INEGI divides work done in the home into six categories:
- help and assistance to members of the household. [In market value terms, this is equivalent to 6.9% of GDP]
- preparation and serving of meals [5% of GDP]
- cleaning and maintaining the home [3.5% of GDP]
- shopping and household administration [2.9% of GDP]
- washing and looking after footwear and clothing [2% of GDP]
- helping other households and voluntary work [1.6% of GDP]
INEGI’s findings suggest that some aspects of family life and the division of “duties” (such as that common to older images like the one below) are not changing very rapidly.
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