This book focuses on the impact of economic systems and social class on the organization of family life. Since the most vital function of the family is the survival of its members, the author give primacy to the economic system in structuring the broad parameters of family life; that is, the economy shapes the prospects families have for earning a decent living by determining the location, nature, and pay associated with work. Taking a broad global and historical approach, the book recognizes and explores how the broader economy shapes family life and examines the organization of family life across the social class hierarchy.