A major new work of feminism from the MacArthur Award-winning economist

Why do patriarchal systems survive? In this groundbreaking work of feminist theory, Nancy Folbre examines the contradictory effects of capitalist development. She explains why the work of caring for others is under-valued and under-rewarded in today's global economy, calling attention to the organisation of childrearing, the care of other dependants, and the inheritance of assets. Upending conventional definitions of the economy based only on the market, Folbre emphasizes the production of human capabilities in families and communities and the social reproduction of group solidarities. Highlighting the complexity of hierarchical systems and their implications for political coalitions, The Rise and Decline of Patriarchal Systems sets a new feminist agenda for the twenty-first century.

"an outstandingly provocative book about the economics of care and reciprocity
(praise for The Invisible Heart)" - New York Times

"original, challenging, and illuminating ... ought to change the way we think about the economy, about economics, and about the family (praise for The Invisible Heart)" - The Independent Review, A Journal of Political Economy

"Folbre makes an important contribution to the discussion of what our society could be, and her humor and insight elevate her book above mere political diatribe.
(Praise for The Invisible Heart)" - Publishers Weekly

"A lively survey of economic thought from the late seventeenth century to the present... A thought-provoking and entertaining read.
(Praise for Greed, Lust and Gender)" - Women's History Network Magazine.

"[Praise for Who Pays for the Kids]

Nancy Folbre, offers a provocative rejoinder to standard economic analyses that focus primarily on market forces and wage labor, thereby marginalizing women and children and devaluing the work they perform in the home and community." - The Women's Review of Books

"Drawing on and challenging aspects of neoliberal and Marxist economic traditions-and showing how patriarchal, capitalist, and other systems interact-Folbre explores how gender gaps have evolved worldwide from the age of hunter-gatherers to the 21st century, when people tend "to view commitments to the care of others as optional lifestyle decisions rather than as socially necessary." She effectively demonstrates how the undervaluation of unpaid care work has profound consequences for U.S. families and the economy as a whole." - Kirkus Reviews

"Skilfully weaving together key insights from different theoretical traditions and evidence from history and contemporary life, Nancy Folbre provides us with an ambitious but eminently readable account of the rise and, hopefully, decline of patriarchy." - Naila Kabeer, Professor of Gender and Development, London School of Economics

"This careful application of intersectional feminism to economic theory yields ample food for thought." - Publishers Weekly