A Home Production Activity Model

Abstract

The basic theoretical framework for a home production activity model is developed here. This model provides a unified context in which to view production activities, especially within the home. A rationale for the widely held concept of utility is explained, thereby integrating social, psychological, and economic theory in a single theoretical construct. Such an inter disciplinary approach facilitates the understanding and explanation of the processes by which the family carries out its diverse functions. Production activities are examined in an input‐output model and are differentiated accord ing to a classification of household, market, or home production. Output is defined in such a manner as to specifically expand the recently developed characteristic approach to consumer decision‐ making. This process allows us to view a broad range of family activities and place them on a continuum extending from production to consumption. Such a perspective pro vides a framework for analyzing home management and family development decisions of re source allocation with respect to human capital, material capital, time, consumption, and production.

Financial Issues Associated with Having a Child with Autism

“…Another useful concept for understanding resource decisions of parents is separable and inseparable home production (Beutler & Owen, 1980). Separable home production is unpaid work at home that could be delegated to a paid worker.…”

Household Production of Food: Expenditures, Norms, And Satisfaction

“…Recently, Beutler and Owen (1980) developed an activity model of home production explicitly recognizing that satisfaction may arise from an activity itself, as well as from other characteristic outputs of the activity. Accordingly, in preparing dinner, a person may gain satisfaction from both the end food product and the process or work required to achieve it.…”

Household Demand for Market Purchased, Home Producible Commodities

“…Beutler and Owen (1980) proposed a model in which various home production activities were classified as either separable or inseparable. They defined separable home production as those activities that may be both delegated to a paid worker and readily separated conceptually from consumption (p. 18).…”

“…Those unpaid activities which are carried on, by and for the members, which activities might be replaced by market goods, or paid services, if circumstances such as income, market conditions, and personal inclinations permit the service being delegated to someone outside the household group (p. 11). Beutler and Owen (1980) proposed a model in which various home production activities were classified as either separable or inseparable. They defined separable home production as those activities that may be both delegated to a paid worker and readily separated conceptually from consumption (p. 18).…”