Roberts, Michael, authorPena, Anita, advisorWeiler, Stephan, committee memberZahran, Sammy, committee memberKroll, Stephan, committee memberPressman, Steven, committee member2019-01-072019-01-072018https://hdl.handle.net/10217/193120The chapters illustrate dynamics of the choices of individuals and households when facing income and time constraints in the recent United States. In the first chapter, grandparent childcare provision is studied from the supply side with a focus on the effect of the 2008 recession. Findings suggest differing effects for lower income respondents, and female respondents. In the second essay, I test a structural consumption model building on Brown (2007) and extending into recent periods using newly available data. Results suggest that Minskian effects are present in consumption in the U.S. Lastly, I test a new relative poverty measure against the more traditional form and study its relation to electoral outcomes from 2000-2016. Results suggest that state-level relative poverty decreases the likelihood of Republican victories. All of these aspects investigate the relationship between the social and the economic in the modern U.S.born digitaldoctoral dissertationsengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.electionsMinskychildcarerelative povertygrandparent childcareText