Household economic studies of preindustrial societies have overlooked one very specific and common material aspect: thrift. This article introduces a theory of economic production for household analysis that focuses on the economic use of materials, space, and labor. This framework is especially integral to understanding emergence of hierarchies. In emerging hierarchies, craft production at the household level can play a key part in the accumulation of power because the scale and type of craft production are moderated by the availability and abundance of material, space, and labor. Control of craft production can mean control of material, space, and labor, and thrifty control can increase production; this is key to emerging economies, particularly those located in a frontier area. Because women are often most associated with household labor, examining cultural definitions of thrift and waste provides a more complete understanding of household gender relations and reframes the importance of women's labor. Using an example from a 14th‐century Mississippian frontier site in Virginia, I show that women engaged in craft production and that by using materials, space, and labor economically, they increased their power over time. An economy of production theoretical perspective highlights a significant factor, thrift, in household organization and agency.

中文翻译：

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生产经济：家庭劳动组织和材料再利用理论

前工业社会的家庭经济研究忽视了一个非常具体且普遍的物质方面：节俭。本文介绍了用于家庭分析的经济生产理论，重点关注材料、空间和劳动力的经济使用。这个框架对于理解层次结构的出现尤其重要。在新兴的等级制度中，家庭层面的手工艺生产可以在权力积累中发挥关键作用，因为手工艺生产的规模和类型受到材料、空间和劳动力的可用性和丰富性的调节。对工艺生产的控制可以意味着对材料、空间、劳动力的控制，节俭的控制可以提高产量；这对于新兴经济体，特别是那些位于前沿地区的经济体来说至关重要。由于妇女通常与家务劳动关系最密切，因此研究节俭和浪费的文化定义可以更全面地理解家庭性别关系，并重新界定妇女劳动的重要性。我以 14 世纪弗吉尼亚州密西西比边境遗址为例，展示了从事手工艺生产的妇女，通过经济地利用材料、空间和劳动力，她们的权力随着时间的推移而增强。生产经济理论视角强调了家庭组织和代理中的一个重要因素：节俭。