We consider an n-person economy in which efficiency is independent of distribution but the cardinal properties of the agents’ utility functions preclude transferable utility (a property we call “Almost TU”). We show that Almost TU is a necessary and sufficient condition for all agents to...

Birth order effects are found in empirical work, but lack theoretical foundations. Our new approach to modelling children provides this. Each child has the same genetic make-up and parents do not favour a child based on its birth order. Each child’s needs change as it grows, and births are...

Consider a two-person economy in which allocative efficiency is independent of distribution but the cardinal properties of the agents' utility functions precludes transferable utility (a property I call “Almost TU”). I show that Almost TU is a necessary and sufficient condition for both...

The income-splitting method of personal income taxation assesses a couple's tax liability by assigning half of the couple's taxable income to each spouse. There is currently a hot debate over whether such a method should be made available to taxpayers in Canada, which has always assessed an...

Birth order effects are found in empirical work, but lack solid theoretical foundations in economics. Our new modeling approach to children provides this. Each child’s needs change as it grows, and births are sequential. Each child has the same genetic make-up and parents do not favor one...

This thesis consists of three essays. In the first two essays we assume that the wife earns a lower wage rate than the husband and we analyze intrafamily distributional effects if environmental parameters such as the tax system or divorce regulations change. The third essay evaluates the...