Wife's Earnings and Family Net Worth Position

The major focus of this research was the influence of wife's earnings on family net worth position. Multiple regression analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Surveys dis closed that the amount of family income, not its sources, had the most important influence on 1967 and 1972 net worth for the total sample. When the sample was segmented by income, independent variables had differential impacts on both 1967 and 1972 net worth. Homeown ership status was positively associated with net worth for all groups, but in both years its impact on net worth was much greater among families in the low‐ and moderate‐income groups. Wife's income was found to have no consistent overall impact on net worth position among the three income groups.