October 01, 2017 | Published Study
  • Intro Text: Nancy Folbre and James Heintz outline some preliminary steps toward a more satisfactory integration of family and market dynamics. They examine distinctive characteristics of the family economy that deserve consideration. They then develop critical assessment of three different types of models: accounting frameworks, neoclassical growth models that assume joint utility, and neoclassical growth models that problematize family decision making between the generations, often dubbed overlapping generation models. They argue that overlapping generation models provide a starting point for more satisfactory models. The paper concludes by outlining ways in which this approach could be fruitfully extended.
  • Type of publication: Published Study
  • Research or In The Media: Research
  • Research Area: Gender and Care Work
  • Publication Date: 2017-10-01
  • Authors:
    • Add Authors: Nancy Folbre
    • Add Authors: James Heintz
  • Show in Front Page Modules: Yes
Investment, Consumption, or Public Good? Unpaid Work and Intra-Family Transfers in the Macro-Economy

Abstract

This paper, published in Ekonomiaz, outlines some preliminary steps toward a more satisfactory integration of family and market dynamics. We begin with a broad overview of conceptual inconsistencies in conventional neoclassical models. Next, we outline several distinctive characteristics of the family economy that deserve consideration. We use this outline to develop a critical assessment of three very different types of models: accounting frameworks (including social accounting matrices), neoclassical growth models that assume joint utility (which typically generate socially optimal outcomes), and neoclassical growth models that problematize family decision making between the generations, often dubbed overlapping generation models. We argue that overlapping generation models provide at least some conceptual leverage for more satisfactory models, and, in our conclusion, we outline some ways in which they could be extended.

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