Neoliberalism's Family Values: Welfare, Human Capital and Kinship

Abstract

This chapter examines the often overlooked role assigned to the family in neoliberal thinking. It is often incorrectly assumed that neoliberal thinkers are exclusively concerned with utilitarian contractual relations among market actors. But to the extent that these same thinkers call upon the family to take over the functions of the welfare state, they also argue that noncontractual obligations within the family need to be reinforced as a counterweight to market exchange.