Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: How Families Matter for Understanding Economic Inequality
Author-Name: Cezar Santos
Author-Email: 
Author-Name: Michèle Tertilt
Author-Email: tertilt@uni-mannheim.de
Classification-JEL: D13, J12, J13, J16
Keywords: families, inequality, marriage, children

Abstract: In this paper we discuss the importance of families for understanding economic 
inequality. Family structure can in principle be an amplifier or mitigator of economic 
inequality. We describe three channels on how families shape economic inequality. First, 
how people match to form families matters for inequality across families. Second, 
parental investments in children can amplify existing inequalities across generations. 
Third, inequality can exist even within families and the economic environment can shape 
inequality in consumption and leisure between spouses. In this survey we describe these 
channels and discuss the related literature.


Note: 
Length: 14
Creation-Date: 2023-08
Revision-Date:
File-URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp456
File-Format: application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:CRCTR224_2023_456