Money and Marriage: Couple’s Choices and their Predictors

Abstract

The ways in which couples in South Europe manage their money has
received little attention. This study uses regression analysis to evaluate the
allocative systems of Portuguese couples and their predictors. To do this
we use a sample of 3,331 households in Portugal with at least one
heterosexual couple. Couples' allocative systems were classified based on
Pahl's typology. The results confirm what has been found in previous
studies regarding the prevalence of joint pooling management and the
predictors of the different models for managing money. However, some
particularities have been found: decisions taken in multi-generational
familes favour partial joint pooling, as the distinctive characteristics of
households in South Europe play a role in assigning intra-family resources.