The Economics of the Family

Front Cover
Nancy Folbre
E. Elgar Pub. Limited, 1996 - Business & Economics - 687 pages
This collection of essays features debate among neoclassical, institutionalist and feminist theorists, providing an invaluable guide to the evolution of economic approaches to the family. The clash of paradigms illuminates some issues of profound concern to economics as a whole, such as the relative importance of altruism and self-interest.

Both abstract mathematical models and interdisciplinary approaches are represented, and the empirical articles explore trends in developing as well as advanced industrial countries. The list of specific topics includes bargaining power models, fertility decline, intergenerational transfers, intrahousehold allocation, class inequality, and state policy.

The editor's introduction provides a broad overview of the fascinating controversies that are emerging in this relatively new field of economics.

From inside the book

Contents

Gary S Becker 1985 Human Capital Effort and the Sexual
3
4 Gary S Becker 1981 Altruism in the Family and Selfishness
97
Robert A Pollak 1985 A Transaction Cost Approach
115
Copyright

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About the author (1996)

Edited by Nancy Folbre, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, US