Comment: The Economics of Nonmonetary Variables

IN THIS PAPER, THE AUTHOR LOOKS AT A FEW MINOR POINTS IN BECKER'S PAPER (PP511-526 OF THIS SAME ISSUE) TO ILLUSTRATE A SOMEWHAT GENERAL PROBLEM THAT IS OFTEN ENCOUNTERED IN SOME EXPLORATIONS BY ECONOMISTS. IN HIS THEORY OF MARRIAGE, BECKER FAILS TO BE DARING ENOUGH IN THE QUESTION WHETHER ANY NONMONETARY VARIABLES ACTUALLY ENTER THE CALCULATIONS. THE NONMONETARY VARIABLES HAVE BEEN MONETIZED. REASONING FROM MARKET OF MONETARY TOTAL OUTPUT WOULD MISS THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN AS GOODS, OF WOMEN AS PRODUCERS OF CHILDREN, OF WOMEN AS LINKS IN PURCHASING POLITICAL POWER, FOR MONETARY REASONING WOULD NOT PREDICT THAT WOMEN WOULD BE ADDED WHERE THEIR MONETARY MARKET OUTPUT DROPS OR ALMOST STOPS UPON ENTERING MARRIAGE. BECKER'S PAPER GOES AWRY, BECAUSE IT FAILS TO TAKE NOTE OF THE POWERFUL NONMARKET AREAS.