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The First World/Third Party Criterion: A Feminist Critique of Production Boundaries in Economics

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  • Cynthia Wood

Abstract

This paper examines definitions of production boundaries in economics, explores the limitations of these definitions with respect to the inclusion of unpaid domestic labor, and considers the significance of such an exploration for feminist economic analysis. Margaret Reid's ''third party criterion,'' a definition of economic activity advocated by many feminists and one used to set the production boundary for most household production models, sets an implicit market standard for defining nonmarket economic activity and therefore contributes to the marginalization of such production. Similarly, production boundaries considered appropriate in third world contexts, such as those defined in the recently revised System of National Accounts, also use implicit market standards for defining nonmarket economic activity. A ''first world'' criterion implicit in such production boundaries defines nonmarket activity as work only if it would have been dealt with on the market in the first world; this results in the inclusion of some of the unpaid domestic activity of rural women on grounds which reinforce the exclusion of work such as child care and the preparation of meals in theory and policy. Feminist economists should beware the danger of recreating implicit assumptions and definitions which result in the exclusion of unpaid domestic labor.

Suggested Citation

  • Cynthia Wood, 1997. "The First World/Third Party Criterion: A Feminist Critique of Production Boundaries in Economics," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(3), pages 47-68.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:femeco:v:3:y:1997:i:3:p:47-68
    DOI: 10.1080/135457097338654
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. David Brennan, 2006. "Defending The Indefensible? Culture'S Role In The Productive/Unproductive Dichotomy," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(3), pages 403-425.
    2. Hendrik Van den Berg, 2014. "Growth theory after Keynes, part II: 75 years of obstruction by the mainstream economics culture," The Journal of Philosophical Economics, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, The Journal of Philosophical Economics, vol. 7(2), May.
    3. Lourdes BENERÍA, 1999. "The enduring debate over unpaid labour," International Labour Review, International Labour Organization, vol. 138(3), pages 287-309, September.
    4. Pandey, R.N., 2001. "Women's contribution to the economy through their unpaid household work," Working Papers 02/2, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.
    5. Jan S. Kowalski & Axel J. Schaffer, 2005. "The Part-Time-Society's Activity and Mobility Patterns," ERSA conference papers ersa05p150, European Regional Science Association.

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