This textbook presents a comprehensive analysis of the enormous changes in women's economic lives around the world, from the family to the labor market. Hoffman and Averett examine a range of fascinating topics such as the effect of rising women's wages and improved labor market opportunities on marriage, the ways in which more reliable contraception has shaped women's adult lives and careers, and the forces behind the phenomenal rise in women's labor force activity. This fourth edition addresses important topics of discussion through brand new chapters on gender in economics and race and gender in the USA. It incorporates the latest research findings throughout, many of which are featured in helpful call-out boxes, and illustrated with new graphs and figures.

This is invaluable reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of economics, development and women's studies. The level of economic analysis is suitable for students with basic economics knowledge.

New to this Edition:
- New chapters on gender in economics and race and gender in economics.
- Fully updated with new data, policy examples and a new companion website with lecturer resources.
- Increased pedagogy, withover 30 new boxes.
- Policy has been integrated into the main chapters so that connections are clearer.
- Intersectional approach.

Saul D. Hoffman is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Delaware, where he taught for 39 years. He also served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Lyon II, University of Paris 1-Sorbonne, and the University of Colorado, Denver. He has published widely in labor economics and economic demography. He is the author of By the Numbers: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing and co-editor of Kids Having Kids (2nd Edition), to which he also contributed several chapters. He is the co-author of two books on the Earned Income Tax Credit published by the Upjohn Institute, and, with Susan Averett and Laura Argys, co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Women and the Economy, published in 2018.

Susan L. Averett is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Economics at Lafayette College. She has published widely in both economic demography and health economics and currently serves as co-editor of the journal Economics and Human Biology. From 2010-2015, she was co-editor of the Eastern Economic Journal. She is a co-editor (with Saul D. Hoffman and Laura M. Argys) of The Oxford Handbook of Women and the Economy, published in 2018. She is also a Research Associate at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA). Recently her work has focused on marriage and health, the causes and consequences of obesity and pollution and infant health.
Saul D. Hoffman is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Delaware, where he taught for 39 years. He also served as a Visiting Professor at the University of Lyon II, University of Paris 1-Sorbonne, and the University of Colorado, Denver. He has published widely in labor economics and economic demography. He is the author of By the Numbers: The Public Costs of Teen Childbearing and co-editor of Kids Having Kids (2nd Edition), to which he also contributed several chapters. He is the co-author of two books on the Earned Income Tax Credit published by the Upjohn Institute, and, with Susan Averett and Laura Argys, co-editor of The Oxford Handbook of Women and the Economy, published in 2018.
Susan L. Averett is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Economics at Lafayette College. She has published widely in both economic demography and health economics and currently serves as co-editor of the journal Economics and Human Biology. From 2010-2015, she was co-editor of the Eastern Economic Journal. She is a co-editor (with Saul D. Hoffman and Laura M. Argys) of The Oxford Handbook of Women and the Economy, published in 2018. She is also a Research Associate at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA). Recently her work has focused on marriage and health, the causes and consequences of obesity and pollution and infant health.