Resources and decision making

• What did Pahl & Vogler find bout resources and decision making in the family?

  -(Pahl & Vogler)- men control the family resources and make important decisions because men contribute more money to the household. They found two types of control over family income:

  -Pooling- where both partners have access to income & a joint responsibility.

  -Allowance System- where men give their wives an allowance out of the income, which she has to meet the family’ needs.

  -They found that pooling is on the increase & was more common in couples that worked full-time, but men still made major financial decisions
• What did Hardill find about resources and decision making?

  • (Hardill)- in her research of 30 ducal-career couples, she found that the most important decisions were normally made by the man alone or jointly.
  • The mans career also took priority when deciding whether to move house etc.
• what did Finch find about resources & decision making?


  • Observed that women’s lives tended to revolve around their husbands careers.
• What did Edgell find about resources and decision making?

  • (Edgell)- Very important decisions such as change in job, moving house, large finances were taken by the husband alone or jointly with the husband always having the final say.
  • Less important decisions such as choice of home decor, children’s clothing and food purchases were normally made by the wife.