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Becker's theory of the family: Preposterous conclusions

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Author Info
Barbara Bergmann
Abstract

Economic theory as applied to the family should increase our understanding of the phenomena we are studying, and allow us to implement fruitful intervention in cases where we are not satisfied with what is occurring. Much if not all of the theory of the family fails to achieve these aims. Examples are given from the most recent edition of Gary Becker's Theory of the Family , where the analysis leads to conclusions that are, on their face, preposterous. This kind of theorizing leads, as does almost all neoclassical theory, to a conclusion that the institutions depicted are benign, and that government intervention would be useless at best and probably harmful. But it isn't necessarily so.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by Taylor and Francis Journals in its journal Feminist Economics.

Volume (Year): 1 (1995)
Issue (Month): 1 (January)
Pages: 141-150
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Handle: RePEc:taf:femeco:v:1:y:1995:i:1:p:141-150

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Related research
Keywords: Family; Economic Theory; Polygamy; Fertility; Altruism;

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(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)
  1. Stephanie Seguino, 2005. "All Types of Inequality are Not Created Equal: Divergent Impacts of Inequality on Economic Growth," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_433, Levy Economics Institute, The. [Downloadable!]
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  2. Robert Cherry, 1998. "Rational Choice and the Price of Marriage," Feminist Economics, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 4(1), pages 27-49, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Martina Lauk & Susanne Meyer, 2005. "Women, Men and Housework Time Allocation: Theory and Empirical Results," Darmstadt Discussion Papers in Economics 143, Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre (Department of Economics), Technische Universität Darmstadt (Darmstadt University of Technology). [Downloadable!]
  4. Martina Lauk & Susanne Meyer, 2004. "Familiale Arbeitsteilung: Determinanten in Theorie und Empirie," Darmstadt Discussion Papers in Economics 125, Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre (Department of Economics), Technische Universität Darmstadt (Darmstadt University of Technology). [Downloadable!]
  5. J. Bonke & M. Deding & M. Lausten, 2006. "Time and Money: Substitutes in Real Terms and Complements in Satisfactions," Economics Working Paper Archive wp_451, Levy Economics Institute, The. [Downloadable!]
  6. Robert Pollak, 2003. "Gary Becker's Contributions to Family and Household Economics," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 111-141, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  7. Daumerie, Béatrice, 2003. "What Future for Europe? New perspectives in post-industrial fertility issues," Arbetsrapport 2003:7, Institute for Futures Studies. [Downloadable!]
  8. Frances Woolley, 2005. "The citation impact of Feminist Economics," Carleton Economic Papers 05-05, Carleton University, Department of Economics, revised Nov 2005. [Downloadable!]
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  9. Shelley Phipps, Peter Burton, Lars Osberg, 2001. "Time As A Source Of Inequality Within Marriage: Are Husbands More Satisfied With Time For Themselves Than Wives?," Feminist Economics, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 7(2), pages 1-21, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  10. Shelley Phipps, . "Economics and Well-Being of Canadian Children," Canadian International Labour Network Working Papers 35, McMaster University. [Downloadable!]
  11. Wiktor Adamowicz & Michel Hanemann & Joffre Swait & Reed Johnson & David Layton & Michel Regenwetter & Torsten Reimer & Robert Sorkin, 2005. "Decision Strategy and Structure in Households: A “Groups” Perspective," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 387-399, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  12. Lourdes Beneria, 1999. "Globalization, Gender And The Davos Man," Feminist Economics, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 5(3), pages 61-83, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  13. Shelley A. Phipps & Peter S. Burton, 1996. "Collective Models of Family Behaviour: Implications for Economic Policy," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 22(2), pages 129-143, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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