Table of Contents: “…The family as an economic unit : theoretical perspectives -- The simple Neoclassical model : specialization and exchange -- Comparative advantage -- Specialization and exchange : numerical examples -- Decreasing gains to specialization and exchange and the shift away from the traditional family -- Disadvantages of specialization -- Lack of sharing of housework -- Life cycle changes -- Costs of interdependence -- Tastes and bargaining power -- Domestic violence -- Advantages of families beyond specialization -- Economies of scale -- Public goods -- Externalities in consumption -- Gains from shared consumption -- Marriage-specific investments -- Risk pooling -- Institutional advantages -- Transaction cost and bargaining approaches -- Appendix 3A. …”