CHAYANOV—CLARK

In Chapter 1, Chayanov states, “…The family’s single indivisible labor product and, consequently, the prosperity of the farm family do not increase so markedly as do the return to a capitalist economic unit influenced by the same factors, for the laboring peasant, noticing the increase in labor productivity, will inevitably balance the internal economic factors of his farm earlier, i.e., with less self-exploitation of his labor power. He satisfies his family’s demands more completely with less expenditure of labor, and he thus decreases the technical intensity of his economic activity as a whole” (8).

Though either side can certainly be argued, I believe this is an example of how Chayanov’s concept of household economics cannot co-exist with Gregory’s claim that householding was just a phase of history. If I understand him correctly, Chayanov is basically stating that households, particularly farming/laboring peasant households, are getting more efficient with time, which would (or should…) encourage the structure or concept of a household instead of letting it die out.