Duncan Thomas (1989) examines intra-household resource allocation using a Brazilian survey. The study challenges the common preference model, which assumes all household members have identical preferences and income is pooled. Instead, it finds that unearned income controlled by mothers has a significantly larger effect on family health than that controlled by fathers. For child survival, the effect of maternal income is nearly 20 times greater than paternal income. The study also finds evidence of gender preferences: mothers allocate more resources to daughters' health and nutrition, while fathers focus on sons. These findings suggest that household resource allocation is not uniform and that gender differences in preferences exist. The paper tests the common preference model using various outcomes, including nutrient intake, fertility, child survival, and anthropometric indicators. It rejects the model in most cases, indicating that household decisions are influenced by individual preferences and bargaining dynamics. The study highlights the importance of considering gender differences in resource allocation when designing policies to improve household and child health.Duncan Thomas (1989) examines intra-household resource allocation using a Brazilian survey. The study challenges the common preference model, which assumes all household members have identical preferences and income is pooled. Instead, it finds that unearned income controlled by mothers has a significantly larger effect on family health than that controlled by fathers. For child survival, the effect of maternal income is nearly 20 times greater than paternal income. The study also finds evidence of gender preferences: mothers allocate more resources to daughters' health and nutrition, while fathers focus on sons. These findings suggest that household resource allocation is not uniform and that gender differences in preferences exist. The paper tests the common preference model using various outcomes, including nutrient intake, fertility, child survival, and anthropometric indicators. It rejects the model in most cases, indicating that household decisions are influenced by individual preferences and bargaining dynamics. The study highlights the importance of considering gender differences in resource allocation when designing policies to improve household and child health.