Women, Family, and Work

Writings on the Economics of Gender

Moe, Karine (Editor)

1. Edition December 2002
256 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd

ISBN: 978-0-631-22577-5

John Wiley & Sons

Sample Chapter

Further versions

Women, Family, and Work is a collection of original essays
on a wide variety of topics related to the economics of gender and
the family. Written by leading thinkers in the field, the essays
apply traditional economic theory to unconventional topics, while
also developing neoclassical economic thought to provide a better
model of economic interactions.

* * 12 newly-commissioned essays on the economics of labor, gender,
and family life.

* Juxtaposes various viewpoints, allowing readers to weigh the
benefits and drawbacks of each model.

* Applies traditional economic theory to unconventional topics,
while also revisioning neoclassical economic thought.

List of Contributors vii

Preface xi

Part I Setting the Stage 1

Introduction Setting the Stage: An Introduction and Overview
3

Karine S. Moe

1 A Feminist Critique of the Neoclassical Theory of the Family
9

Marianne A. Ferber

Part II The Economics of Marriage 25

2 Rational Choice and the Price of Marriage 27

Robert Cherry

3 Conceptualizing and Measuring Bargaining Power within the
Household 43

Cheryl Doss

Part III The Division of Work in the Household 63

4 Gains from Trade and Specialization: The Division of Work in
Married Couple Households 65

Leslie S. Stratton

5 But ... Who Mows the Lawn?: The Division of Labor in
Same-sex Households 85

Lisa Giddings

Part IV The Economics of Childbearing and Childcaring
103

6 Economic Theories of Fertility 105

Diane Macunovich

7 The Childcare Economics Conundrum: Quality versus
Affordability 125

Julie A. Nelson

8 The Childcare Problem for Low-income Working Families
143

Jean Kimmel

Part V The Gender Gap in Earnings 159

9 The Human Capital Explanation for the Gender Gap in Earnings
161

Joyce P. Jacobsen

10 Occupational Segregation Around the World 177

Debra Barbezat

11 Labor Market Discrimination: A Case Study of MBAs 199

Irene Powell

12 Employment Discrimination, Economists, and the Law 217

Joni Hersch

Index 235

'This collection brings together a number of the best feminist economists writing in the US today. Spanning topics from child care to the division of labour in the home, from the gender gap in earnings to the economics of marriage, it goes beyond the standard textbook analysis to provide a deeper understanding of Women, Family, and Work.' Frances Woolley, Carleton University

Karine S. Moe is Associate Professor of Economics at Macalester College, with a PhD from the University of Minnesota. She has written widely on the subject of gender economics, and has been published in journals such as Feminist Economics and The Review of Economic Dynamics.

K. Moe, Macalester College