Domestic Economy

Domestic Economy Definition

The domestic economy is the system by which each member of a family contributes, through labor carried out at home, to the maintenance and survival of the family as a whole.

From Preindustrial to Industrial Society

In preindustrial societies, parents and children alike tended to work in the home or the fields, directly producing what the family needed; the domestic economy was therefore crucial to survival. In industrial societies it has declined, as work in outside agencies has replaced work performed at home.