Comments on: Why Isn’t Caplan in the Kitchen? http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/08/27/why-isnt-caplan-in-the-kitchen/ The Sweet Release of Reason Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:41:23 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Grant Gould http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/08/27/why-isnt-caplan-in-the-kitchen/comment-page-1/#comment-299428 Grant Gould Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:50:41 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/08/27/why-isnt-caplan-in-the-kitchen/#comment-299428 Comparative advantage is a good way to look at the problem. To translate 50/50 to "exactly half of every task" is a logical jump akin to the argument that trade causes inequality -- a complete blindness to the notion that bargaining and trade can improve everyone's lot. I like to cook, and my wife loathes cooking. It is perfectly reasonable, then, for us to make the exchange that I do the cooking and she cleans up after. (This creates an incentive problem with respect to dirty dishes, of course, but the savvy married person will generally be able to handle it). 50/50 is, conceptually, the right place from which to start bargaining. This means that it will almost never be the right place to stop bargaining. Comparative advantage is a good way to look at the problem. To translate 50/50 to “exactly half of every task” is a logical jump akin to the argument that trade causes inequality — a complete blindness to the notion that bargaining and trade can improve everyone’s lot.

I like to cook, and my wife loathes cooking. It is perfectly reasonable, then, for us to make the exchange that I do the cooking and she cleans up after. (This creates an incentive problem with respect to dirty dishes, of course, but the savvy married person will generally be able to handle it).

50/50 is, conceptually, the right place from which to start bargaining. This means that it will almost never be the right place to stop bargaining.

]]> By: Gil http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/08/27/why-isnt-caplan-in-the-kitchen/comment-page-1/#comment-298651 Gil Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:29:15 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/08/27/why-isnt-caplan-in-the-kitchen/#comment-298651 On the other hand, there's nothing magically best about the 50/50 distribution. It smacks of dogmatic egalitarianism to me. Couples should figure out what distribution works best for them (and it will probably change over time). On the other hand, there’s nothing magically best about the 50/50 distribution. It smacks of dogmatic egalitarianism to me.

Couples should figure out what distribution works best for them (and it will probably change over time).

]]> By: Nicholas Weininger http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/08/27/why-isnt-caplan-in-the-kitchen/comment-page-1/#comment-298006 Nicholas Weininger Tue, 28 Aug 2007 03:02:40 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/08/27/why-isnt-caplan-in-the-kitchen/#comment-298006 Also, false dichotomy alert. Why does either of them have to specialize in cooking, cleaning, and shopping? Why couldn't they be better off both specializing in bringing home the bread, and using the resultant increased income to get takeout meals, hire a maid service, and pay delivery fees? Also, false dichotomy alert. Why does either of them have to specialize in cooking, cleaning, and shopping? Why couldn’t they be better off both specializing in bringing home the bread, and using the resultant increased income to get takeout meals, hire a maid service, and pay delivery fees?

]]> By: Mike http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/08/27/why-isnt-caplan-in-the-kitchen/comment-page-1/#comment-297845 Mike Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:10:08 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2007/08/27/why-isnt-caplan-in-the-kitchen/#comment-297845 As Heinlein said, "Specialization is for insects." Any man who "can't clean, cook, or shop to save his life" has <b>chosen</b> to be an insect. As Heinlein said, “Specialization is for insects.”

Any man who “can’t clean, cook, or shop to save his life” has chosen to be an insect.

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