Barbara R. Rowe

The differences in financial structure between women- and men-owned family businesses

Lenders often are faced with the challenge of evaluating the financial success of a business or a proposed business by examining the financial records of the household, reasoning that an assessment of the households financial position should be a plausible indicator of the financial status of the business. Utilizing data from the recently released Family Business Survey, this study uses financial information about both the family and the business to examine the relationship between household financial indicators and business financial indicators for women- and men-owned family businesses. The results suggest that, while household financial statements may be good indicators for men-owned businesses, they appear to be much less reliable for women-owned businesses.

Who's working at home: The types of families engaged in home-based work

As increasing numbers of families attempt to balance their need for paid wages with household and child care responsibilities, and corporations struggle with employee flexibility and global competitiveness, there has been a renewed interest in the home as a work place. However, there is little literature on the kinds of families who engage in home-based work, where they live, the types of work they do, or how profitable home-based work can be. This descriptive analysis focuses on the family dimensions of home-based work. It is organized by the characteristics of the household, worker characteristics, characteristics of the work, and the effect of home-based work on family income.

Child support guidelines: Economic theory and policy considerations

Federal legislation has mandated that all states develop numeric guidelines for child support awards in divorce and paternity suits. The purpose of this article is to review the theoretical models currently used in guidelines development and to present an analysis of issues pertinent to the development and use of guidelines. A familiarity with the principles underlying child support guidelines will assist family scientists who may be called upon to provide expertise on this public policy issue.