Timing Constraints and the Allocation of Time: The Effects of Changing Shopping Hours Regulations in the Netherlands Joyce P. Jacobsen and Peter Kooreman May 2003 Abstract A 1996 change in shopping hours regulations in the Netherlands provides an opportunity to study the effects of timing constraints on total time spent in shopping, working, and other activities as well as the timing of these activities. We develop a simple structural model to make predictions about the effects of imposition and relaxation of a timing constraint on time use patterns, and utilize time diary data from 1995, 1997, and 1999 to examine time use patterns by demographic group before and after the change Keywords: time allocation, labor supply JEL classification: D12, J22 Jacobsen: Department of Economics, Wesleyan University, jjacobsen@wesleyan.edu; Kooreman: Department of Economics, University of Groningen, p.kooreman@eco.rug.nl. We thank Dan Hamermesh, Adriaan Soetevent, and participants at the May 2002 IZA conference for helpful comments.