This book presents a systematic and original approach to the intimate link between the micro-structures of households and the structures of the capitalist world-economy at a global level.

This book seeks an explanation of the pattern of sharp discrepancy of wage levels across the world-economy for work of comparable productivity. It explores how far such differences can be explained by the different structures of households as 'income-pooling units', examining three key variables: location in the core or periphery of the world-economy; periods of expansion versus periods of contraction in the world-economy; and secular transformation over time. The authors argue that both the boundaries of households and their sources of income are molded by the changing patterns of the world-economy, but are also modes of defense against its pressures. Drawing empirical data from eight local regions in three different zones - the United States, Mexico and southern Africa - this book presents a systematic and original approach to the intimate link between the micro-structures of households and the structures of the capitalist world-economy at a global level.

Preface Joan Smith and Immanuel Wallerstein
1. Household as an institution of the world-economy Immanuel Wallerstein and Joan Smith
2. The united States Kathie Friedman Kasada
(a) The Detroit Story: the crucible of Fordism Kathleen Stanley and Joan Smith
(b) New York City: the underside of the world's capital Kathie Friedman Kasada
(c)Binghamton: the secrets of a backwater Randall H. McGuire and Cynthia Woodsong
(d) Puerto Rico: from colony to colony Maria Del Carmen Baega
3. Mexico Lanny Thompson
(a) Mexico City: the slow rise of wage-centered households Lanny Thompson
(b) Central Mexico: the decline of subsistence and the rise of poverty Lanny Thompson
4. Southern Africa Mark Beittel
(a) The Witwatersrand: black households, white households Mark Beittel
(b) Lesotho: the creation of the households William G. Martin
5. Core-periphery and household structures Immanuel Wallerstein and Joan Smith
Postscript on method Joan Smith and Jamie Sudler
Bibliography.