Should husband and wife pool their incomes?

This article addresses the problem of optimal provision of household public goods in family decision-making. In particular, we attempt to answer the question of whether or not the family is better off as an entity when spouses pool their incomes. Our findings suggest that the equilibrium attained when incomes are pooled is Pareto superior to the Cournot-Nash equilibrium outcome.

Source: “Should husband and wife really pool their incomes?” from Applied Economics Letters, Volume 14, Issue 11 September 2007 , pages 813 – 816

Best book I’ve ever read about the subject of marriage is by Stephanie Coontz, “Marriage, a History.”

And if you’re curious whether you’re headed for a divorce, ask Visa.