Research on the welfare state has been particularly concerned with variations in inequality between societies. These studies tend to view the family as a unit of shared interests where incomes are pooled and distributed equally This study makes a theoretical and empirical case for why it is important to look at economic dependency within the family in comparative welfare state research. Hirschman's theoretical framework of exit and voice is applied to the power relations in the family Using comparative data from several Western societies, this study shows empirically that the relationship between overall inequality and women's economic dependency is rather weak. Some guidelines and directions for incorporating women's economic dependency into future comparative welfare state research are suggested.
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