MEASURING INEQUALITY WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD

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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explore a number of measures of inequality within households. We focus primarily on two types of inequality, first, inequality in money incomes, second, inequality in control over household resources. Control is measured in two ways: first, as control over the management of household finances and, second, as influence over household decision‐making. We discuss arguments for and against each of the measures of inequality, and compare the measures against one another in terms of the level of inequality each measure finds. The paper does not attempt to explain inequality; instead, its aim is to discuss the question “What is it that we wish to explain?” Perhaps less important, but also revealing, within the 21–34 age group, 90 percent of the males and 80 percent of the females felt that the other partner had more closet space. (“Poll suggests young marriages in big trouble.” The Ottawa Citizen, August 19, 1990.)