"As an economist and a public intellectual, Gary Becker was a giant. He won a Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking work in human capital, the John Bates Clark Medal as the best American economist under 40, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to public life and welfare. He...

Economists assume that people make choices based on their preferences and their budget constraints. The preferences and values of others play no role in the standard economic model. This feature has been sharply criticized by other social scientists, who believe that the choices people make are...

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Preface to the Enlarged Edition -- Introduction -- 1. Single-Person Households -- 2. Division of Labor in Households and Families 30 Supplement: Human Capital, Effort, and the Sexual Division of Labor -- 3. Polygamy and Monogamy in Marriage Markets -- 4. Assortative...