Gender and financial accounts in marriage

Abstract

We draw on the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey conducted in 2006, and a qualitative study of online banking and intimate relationships conducted in 2005–6 in Australia. We find that more women than men have a mix of joint and separate accounts. Migrants born in a non-English-speaking country, and those who have been remarried are less likely to have joint accounts only. Employment status is also important, but income is not significant in determining types of accounts held. This relates to financial accounts being only marginally relevant to the way people manage and control their money. Our article helps explain how people represent to themselves their balance of separateness and jointness in money in marriage.