Nuclear families often have a higher living standard than extended families because they face fewer financial constraints, as resources are less diluted among members. This smaller family unit can be more economically flexible, allowing for better employment and education opportunities.
When addressing the question of why nuclear families often have a higher living standard than extended families, it's essential to recognize the socioeconomic dynamics involved. Nuclear families tend to have fewer financial constraints due, in part, to having fewer members to support and provide for.
This smaller family unit, characterized by one or two parents and their children, frequently benefits from a higher per capita income, and hence, a potentially higher standard of living, as resources are more concentrated among fewer individuals. In contrast, extended families, which can span multiple generations or include additional members such as aunts, uncles, and grandparents, require the distribution of resources among a larger group of people.
Furthermore, the nuclear family model is often more mobile and adaptable to changing economic conditions, which can lead to better opportunities for employment and education. Extended families, while providing a broad support network, may face complexities in decision-making and resource allocation that can hamper economic flexibility.
The increased burden of support across multiple family units within an extended family may limit the resources available for investment in individual members' education or professional development. Consequently, the conventional nuclear family might have advantaged access to education for children and overall economic mobility.
Therefore, the answer to why nuclear families often have a higher living standard than extended families is c) Because extended families face more financial constraints. This difference is not inherently due to stronger family bonds or increased sharing of resources within nuclear families, nor solely because of easier access to education for children in nuclear families.