This chapter begins the search for the links between family and community. In particular, it makes the case for why particular institutions—marriage and legal parenthood—have been accorded special status, and why others that seem factually close—cohabitation, stepparenting, and kinship care—have not. In economic terms, marriage and adoption (or legal parenthood) send strong signals both to the participants in them and to those on the outside looking at them. The chapter also provides theoretical evidence for maintaining the distinction, except perhaps for special subgroups in the community,...

This chapter begins the search for the links between family and community. In particular, it makes the case for why particular institutions—marriage and legal parenthood—have been accorded special status, and why others that seem factually close—cohabitation, stepparenting, and kinship care—have not. In economic terms, marriage and adoption (or legal parenthood) send strong signals both to the participants in them and to those on the outside looking at them. The chapter also provides theoretical evidence for maintaining the distinction, except perhaps for special subgroups in the community, and further describes how the strong societal consensus surrounding these institutions may change, as well as what role laws may play as opposed to social developments.