Family economics

The family, although recognized as fundamental from Adam Smith on, received little systematic treatment in economics before the 1950s. A significant exception was Thomas Malthus's model of population growth. The work of Gary Becker and others initiated contemporary research with the application and extension of microeconomic theory and empirical methods. Standard aspects include:
* fertility and the demand for children in developed and developing countries [Alicia Adsera (2008). "fertility in developed countries," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_F000289 Abstract.] ] [T. Paul Schultz (2008). "fertility in developing countries," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_F000287 Abstract.] ]
* child health and mortality [Janet Currie (2008). "child health and mortality," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_C000553 Abstract.] ]
* interrelation of 'quantity' and 'quality' of children through investment of time and other resources of parents
* altruism in the family, including the rotten kid theorem [Theodore C. Bergstrom (2008). "rotten kid theorem<," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics, 2nd Edition", [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_R000239 Abstract.] ]
* sexual division of labor through the household production function and outside the household. [Olivier Donni (2008). "collective models of the household." "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_C000542 Abstract.] ] [Shelly Lundberg and Robert A. Pollak (2008). "family decision making," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_F000290 Abstract.] ]
* mate selection, [Hao Li (2008). "assortative matching," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_A000214&edition=&field=keyword&q=assortative%20matching&topicid=&result_number=1 Abstract.] ] search costs, marriage, divorce, and imperfect information [Yoram Weiss (2008). "marriage and divorce," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_M000367 Abstract.] ]
* family background and opportunities of children.
* intergenerational mobility and inequality, including the bequest motive [John Laitner (2008). "bequests and the life cycle model," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_B000317&q=bequest%20motive&topicid=&result_number=2 Abstract.] ] [Kathleen McGarry (2008). "inheritance and bequests." "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_I000251&q=bequest%20motive&topicid=&result_number=1 Abstract.] ]
* human capital, social security, and the rise and fall of families [Oded Galor (2008). "human capital, fertility and growth," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_H000166&q=human%20capital&topicid=&result_number=1 Abstract.] ] [Gary S. Becker (1987). "family," "", v. 2, pp. 281-86.] [John Ermisch (2008). "family economics," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_F000292&q=family%20&topicid=&result_number=1 Abstract.] ]

Notes

References

* Building Family of Economics http://www.economicsfamily.com [http://www.economicsfamily.com]
* Gary S. Becker (1981, Enlarged ed., 1991). "A Treatise on the Family". Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-90698-5. [http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/BECTRR.html Publisher's description] & [http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=NLB1Ty75DOIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&ots=pgEontZXvu&sig=tF9_zGmwdn9kN09sTkD-ECzi89w#PPP1,M1 preview.]
* _____ (1987). "family," "The ", v. 2, pp. 281-86.
* Yoram Ben-Porath (1982). "Economics and the Family-Match or Mismatch? a Review of Becker's "A Treatise on the Family"," "Journal of Economic Literature", 20(1) (March), p [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0515%28198203%2920%3A1%3C52%3AEATFOM%3E2.0.CO%3B2-D&size=LARGE p. 52] -64.
* Theodore C. Bergstrom (1996). "Economics in a Family Way," "Journal of Economic Literature", 34(4), p [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-0515%28199612%2934%3A4%3C1903%3AEIAFW%3E2.0.CO%3B2-M&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage p. 1903] -1934.
* Theodore C. Bergstrom and Mark Bagnoli (1993). "Courtship as a Waiting Game," "Journal of Political Economy", 101(1), p [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-3808%28199302%29101%3A1%3C185%3ACAAWG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-6&size=LARGE&origin=JSTOR-enlargePage p. 185] -202.
*Richard A. Berk (1987). "household production," "", v. 2, pp. 673-75
* John Ermisch (2008). "family economics," "The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics", 2nd Edition. [http://www.dictionaryofeconomics.com/article?id=pde2008_F000292&q=family%20&topicid=&result_number=1 Abstract] + links to "Related Articles" Abstracts.
*Mark R. Rosenzweig and Oded Stark, ed. (1997). "Handbook of Population and Family Economics", v. 1A & 1B, 1343 pp. Elsevier.com. [http://books.elsevier.com/us/bookscat/search/details.asp?country=United+States&isbn=9780444896476&mscssid=38TXE56E8LTG8P03G09CFBP1FBTQ39BF Publisher's description & contents.]
*Theodore W. Schultz, ed. (1974). "Economics of the Family: Marriage, Children, and Human Capital", Chicago, University of Chicago Press