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Preface -- Contents -- Part I The Theme -- 1 Introduction -- References -- 2 Social Groups -- References -- 3 Households -- References -- Part II The Basic Framework -- 4 Pure Exchange with Fixed Household Structure -- 4.1 Efficient Household Decisions -- 4.2 Equilibrium Existence -- 4.3 Ramifications -- References -- 5 General Equilibrium with Fixed Household Structure and Production -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Model and First Main Result -- 5.2.1 Technologies and Firm Decisions -- 5.2.2 Allocations and Individual Preferences -- 5.2.3 Property Rights and Household Decisions -- 5.2.4 Feasibility and Optimality -- 5.3 Existence -- 5.3.1 Preferences on Aggregate Household Consumption -- 5.3.2 Equilibrium Existence Result -- 5.4 Ramifications -- 5.4.1 Second Welfare Theorem -- 5.4.2 Core Theory -- 5.4.3 Household Production -- 5.5 Final Remarks -- References -- 6 General Equilibrium with Variable Household Structure -- 6.1 Consumers and Households -- Commodities and Allocations -- 6.2 Preferences and Welfare -- 6.3 Equilibrium Welfare -- References -- 7 General Equilibrium with Endogenous Household Structure -- 7.1 Existence of Equilibria with the Exit Option -- 7.2 Existence of Equilibria with the Exit and the Joining Option -- 7.3 Equilibrium Welfare -- 7.4 Outlook -- References -- 8 Cores -- References -- Part III Other Forms of Group Formation -- 9 Clubs, Matching, etc. -- 9.1 Clubs -- 9.2 Two-sided Matching -- 9.2.1 Existence in the Marriage Market -- 9.2.2 Non-Existence in the Marriage Market -- 9.2.3 Discussion -- 9.3 Other Models of Group Formation -- References -- 10 Related Work -- 10.1 Related Literature -- References -- Part IV Extensions and Applications -- 11 Power in General Equilibrium -- 11.1 The Notion of Power -- 11.2 Changes in Formal Power -- 11.3 Endogenizing Power -- 11.3.1 Power of Voice -- 11.3.2 Power of (Un)Friendliness

This monograph studies multi-member households or, more generally, socio-economic groups from a purely theoretical perspective and within a general equilibrium framework, in contrast to a sizeable empirical literature. The approach is based on the belief that households, their composition, decisions and behavior within a competitive market economy deserve thorough examination. The authors set out to link the formation, composition, decision-making, and stability of households. They develop general equilibrium models of pure exchange economies in which households can have several, typically heterogeneous members and act as collective decision-making units on the one hand and as competitive market participants on the other hand. Moreover, the more advanced models combine traditional exchange (markets for commodities) and matching (markets for people or partners) and develop implications for welfare, social structures, and economic policy. In the field of family economics, Hans Haller and Hans Gersbach have pioneered a 'market' approach that applies the tools of general equilibrium theory to the analysis of household behavior. This very interesting book presents an overview of their methods and results. This is an inspiring work. Pierre-André Chiappori, Columbia University, USA The sophisticated, insightful and challenging analysis presented in this book extends the theory of the multi-person household along an important but relatively neglected dimension, that of general equilibrium theory. It also challenges GE theorists themselves to follow Paul Samuelson in taking seriously the real attributes of that fundamental building block, the household, as a social group whose decisions may not satisfy the standard axioms of individual choice. This synthesis and extension of their earlier work by Gersbach and H aller will prove to be a seminal contribution in its field. Ray Rees, LMU Munich, Germany.