Is there a Socioeconomic Dimension to Household Extension in Latin America?

Abstract

This paper investigates whether urban/ rural residence or husband’s occupation is related to household extension in six Latin American countries in the middle 1970s. Since urban households were more likely to be extended than rural households among the less well educated, the urban/rural differences appeared more consistent with a world-system perspective than with a “modernization” view. It is important to note, however, that the existence of a difference was not universal, being absent in Mexico and Peru. Also, husband’s occupation was only important among the urban dwellers of three of the six countries, perhaps suggesting that a sizable urban/ industrial economy must exist for there to be a relationship. The paper ends by noting a number of study limitations which could be addressed in future research.