Family Size and Structure

Historically, the role of family size and structure in the analysis of poverty was neglected. However, later analysis found that a large family is a contributing factor to the circle of poverty. The place of family size and structure as a core fundamental determinant of one’s chances of becoming poor cannot be overemphasized. Studies have demonstrated the association between family size and structure and overall well-being of individuals within the family. It is assumed that poor people have large families, and that the larger the family, the lower the standard of living. Large families operate primarily to reduce the share of family [Page 548]income available to meet each individual member’s needs. This happens when large families have a high proportion of child dependents resulting from ...