Economic Pressures, Effects on Relationships

Types of Problems Causing Economic Pressure

The same level of income is not viewed the same by every family. The amount of money brought into the family is only part of this complex issue. Many people study economic problems using an “income-to-needs” concept. This refers to the amount of money available to be used divided by the number of people who are dependent on the income available. The concept of available income has a connection to relationships and the family structure. In some families, it is assumed that the money is a shared resource and used for the goals, needs, and problems of the family unit. In other families, it is assumed that the earner has the control of how or whether the income is shared. Most of these situations occur in family units where they believe being independent is the way to approach daily life. This is often ascribed to in European-American cultures.

Economic problems vary by several factors such as the age of the earner, the responsibilities of the earner, who is dependent on the income (another adult, a child, other people), and how many earners are in the unit. Factors that relate to the economic problems or lack of economic problems are sometimes influenced by the characteristics of the person earning the money. The health (including mental and physical), the education, and skills of the earner all influence the level and stability of the earnings.

People also study the decision-making processes of the family members who have access to the income. What are the decisions around the “how” and under what circumstances can different types of money be used? For instance, is the family unit's [Page 481]rule to “never spend more than what is available to use” or “no matter the level of income, one must always save something”? Is it “okay to use the marketplace and credit to get what you want” or it is “only acceptable to use the marketplace and credit when it is an absolute need for the family?” The complexity surrounding these issues varies across the structure of the family organization and within each family type across a life span. These rules along with the level of income can be viewed as contributing to economic problems resulting in economic pressure, especially if not all members of the family agree with the rules. If the rules can't be followed because of situations beyond the control of the family, this also contributes to problems.

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