Time is a basic element that underpins all human behaviour. Public policy regularly aims to encourage some behaviours (such as healthy levels of physical activity) and discourage other behaviours (such as smoking). At times, governments and other agencies seek to incentivise people to change their behaviour (such as encouraging a reduction in the impact of our daily activities on the natural environment). 

Time diary data facilitate the understanding of people’s activities for the formation of policy, and also can reveal the outcomes of policy initiatives. Time use data are particularly effective for looking at topics that cover a wide range of activities - such as work-life balance or gender equality. Time-use data also are the most effective mechanism for measuring unpaid household production (housework), and a key element for measuring travel and physical activity. 

In 2012, Colombia became the first country to pass a law (La ley 1413 de 2010, proposed by then Senator Cecilia Lopez) mandating the collection of time use surveys to account for the care economy. This law also requires measurement of unpaid household work in the System of National Accounts, in order to measure the contribution of women to economic and social development. This data in turn will shape public policies. Researchers in other countries have highlighted the direct policy opportunities for national governments of using time use data.

This resource provides an overview of current policy applications of time use data. Clicking on the categories on the left hand menu reveals brief summaries policy areas to which time use research has contributed, and also lists key publications related to each policy area.

This page was compiled by the Executive of the International Association for Time Use Research and other members of the time use community. Authors include Kimberly Fisher, Jiweon Jun, Ladislav Kozak, Barbara Ky, Thomas McCurdy, Joeri Minnen, Iiris Niemi, Jorge Rosales-Salas, and Theun Pieter van Tienoven.