@article{Golden_2010, place={Washington DC: American Sociological Association.}, title={Family Life in Economic Context}, url={https://trails.asanet.org/article/view/family-life-in-economic-context}, abstractNote={Course Objectives: We all experience, at some point in our lives, being part of both a family and an economy. The purpose of this course is for students to gain a deeper understanding of the connections between the family life and economic forces. The focus will be on the way conditions in the economy, labor market, households, and culture of the workplace and marketplace can influence the well-being and functioning of families. In addition, the course investigates the reverse interaction—how relationships, patterns and decisions within the family may affect the behavior and performance of markets, enterprises, economic development and the overall economy. It will consider the role of gender, race, age, and socioeconomic class, and influence of discrimination, historical and market forces. Finally, it surveys the various current strategies that employers and public policy makers have undertaken seeking to improve the well being of family members, parents and children, by enhancing the ability to earn incomes and better balance work and family responsibilities. The scope of issues covered range from the impact of recent increases in female labor force participation and work hours, overwork, work-family imbalance, income inequality, consumer debt, unemployment and contingent work. It will also analyze the impact of recently decreasing child poverty, fertility rates, occupational segregation, etc. Finally, it will address the public policy debates regarding governmental support of family income, child-care, etc. The topics addressed are intended to flow in a logical sequence, beginning from the individual decision to participate or not in the paid labor force, to the decision regarding the allocation of one’s time in a family, household and life-cycle context, to the effects of family roles on well being, to policy regarding family, children, work-family balance and social welfare programs. }, journal={TRAILS: Teaching Resources and Innovations Library for Sociology}, author={Golden, Lonnie}, year={2010}, month={Apr.} }