Income-sharing by couples

In 2010, almost two-thirds of French couples living together for at least a year and comprising at least one economically active partner reported full income-sharing. The remaining third are almost equally divided between couples that partially share their incomes and those that maintain a complete separation. These patterns are stable, as 90% of couples have always applied the same arrangement. Partners discuss personal expenditures more often when they fully share their incomes. Total sharing is more common for married couples, couples with children, and, necessarily, when one partner is economically inactive. Total sharing is less frequent among couples that are not first unions or among those with a high educational attainment or high living standards.