ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book considers the relationship between intra-household inequality and psychological well-being of individual family members within the households of married couples in Ireland. It indicates the significant relationship between material deprivation, financial strain and psychological distress; intra-household inequality is not only gendered but also has an impact on the psychological well-being of individual family members. The book considers the ways in which older couples in the UK manage their money and cope with major financial transitions such as retirement, bereavement and ill-health. It also considers the austerity measures taken at the level of the European Union to tackle the financial crisis and, more particularly, their relationship with the values of solidarity and equality. The book further explains the appropriateness of a private law contractarian approach to the regulation of couple relationships.
