The power of money in dual-earner couples: A comparative study

Abstract

Building on the notion of the ‘social nature’ of money, this article investigates how dual-earner couples in Germany, Spain, Sweden and the US handle money in their everyday lives. We analysed in-depth, open-ended interviews conducted with 45 couples in these four countries to determine whether they define money as ‘joint’ or ‘separate’ and to investigate the consequences such definitions have for couple relationships. The concept of the convertibility of money helped us to spell out these consequences in detail. In addition, we explore whether the meaning of ‘joint’ or ‘separate’ money might relate to institutionalized cultural frameworks embodied in welfare policies that vary between countries. Couples in Spain and in Sweden seem to practise a low degree of convertibility of money into other resources, but they do so for different reasons: in Spain, money tends to be considered ‘joint money’ from the outset, whereas in Sweden it is often kept ‘separate’ and outside the relationship. In contrast, in the US and Germany, money, while often classified as ‘joint’ by the couples, is more likely to be seen as each partner’s individual contribution to the relationship. Thus it can be, and often is, converted into resources such as domestic work or recognition.

Is the Cohabitation–Marriage Gap in Money Pooling Universal?

“…Yet the comparative research on this theme might be very instructive because it tests the idea that marriage and cohabitation are becoming gradually more alike in modern societies (Kiernan, 2002). So far, most of the comparative research has focused on money management in marriage (Lauer & Yodanis, 2011;Treas & Tai, 2012;Treas & Widmer, 2000) or studied conjugal unions in general, without distinguishing marriage and cohabitation (Ludwig-Mayerhofer, Allmendinger, Hirseland, & Schneider, 2011). In contrast, comparative studies that directly explore the marriage-cohabitation gap in income pooling in various institutional settings are rare (Hamplová & Le Bourdais, 2009;Heimdal & Houseknecht, 2003).…”

Dinero y matrimonio: elecciones de pareja y sus predictores

“…US, Australia, Germany, Spain) have mostly confirmed extant results (Burgoyne et al, 2007;Heimdal and Houseknecht, 2003;Kenney, 2006;Ludwig-Mayerhofer et al, 2011;Oropesa et al, 2003), Pahl (2008) herself postulates that patterns and predictors of intra-household money arrangements might not generalize across societies and cultures. This may well be the case in South European countries, such as Portugal, known for their familialist tradition in which intergenerational interaction and solidarity and late emancipation of young people are distinctive features that still prevail (Aboim, 2011;Calzada and Brooks, 2013;Martínez et al, 2004;Naldini, 2003;Jurado and Naldini, 1996;Naldini and Saraceno, 2011).…”

“…For the last decade research has been focused on factors determining couples' management choices, their relationship to autonomy and well-being of household members, as well as to satisfaction with the marital relationship itself (Burgoyne et al, 2007;Heimdal and Houseknecht, 2003;Kenney, 2006;Ludwig-Mayerhofer et al, 2011;Oropesa et al, 2003;Pahl, 1995;Vogler and Pahl, 1993;Vogler et al, 2006Vogler et al, , 2008. The consequences on household financial management of changes in sociocultural values associated with marriage, family and gender relations have also been studied (Pahl, 2008;Vogler, 2005;Vogler et al, 2008).…”

“…Aunque diversos estudios en distintos países (Estados Unidos, Australia, Alemania, España) han confirmado estos resultados (Burgoyne et al, 2007; Heimdal y Houseknecht, 2003;Kenney, 2006;Ludwig-Mayerhofer et al, 2011;Oropesa et al, 2003), Pahl (2008) postula que las modalidades de gestión y sus predictores pueden no generalizarse en todas las culturas. Este puede ser el caso de los países del sur europeo, como Portugal, conocido por su tradición familiarista, en la cual prevalecen la interacción intergeneracional, la solidaridad y la emancipación tardía de los jóvenes (Aboim, 2011; Calzada y Brooks, 2013;Martínez et al, 2004;Naldini, 2003; Jurado y Naldini, 1996; Naldini y Saraceno, 2011).…”

My Money, Your Money, Our Money: Contributions to the Analysis of Couples’ Financial Management in Portugal

“…Estudos realizados em outros países (Estados Unidos, Austrália, Alemanha, Suécia, Espanha) confirmaram, no essencial, os resultados apresentados (Ludwig et al, 2011;Pahl, 2008). Tal não significa, no entanto, que estes sejam generalizáveis a outras partes do mundo (Pahl, 2008).…”