Answer: 

Introduction:

The joint family is an extension of the nuclear family (parents and dependent children), and it typically grows when children do not leave their parents’ home at marriage but bring their spouse to live with them.

Body:

The phases of a joint family can be explained by various socio-cultural factors. However, today economic considerations are seen to be of greater importance in deciding the life cycle of a joint family. This can be seen as follows:

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• Migration for jobs: As globalization increased, jobs which require more individualization were on the rise in cities. The migration of younger generations to cities for such jobs led to the breakdown of joint families.
• Western way of life: Western way of life is highly materialistic. Such a life cannot be sustained if a large number of dependents are to be supported. This has led to rise in nuclear families and decline in joint family systems.
• Need for social security: During Covid pandemic, joint families were revived as people migrated back to villages and also began focusing on dependability in case of crisis.
• Expensive life in cities: With increasing cost of living in cities, there has been an increase in the joint family system which helps in living a better life by utilizing economies-of-scale.
• Working women: Joint families reduce the burden of child-rearing making it easier for women to engage in jobs elsewhere. In families where husband and wife are employed, grandparents are often needed to take care of young ones as day-care services are expensive in cities.
• Business interests: Joint families are common among the affluent sections of the Indian society as they believe in having many members who can help run the business.

Conclusion:

The continuation of social norms and cultural practices like the joint family system depends on the economic capacity of the family. Thus, economic factors, rather than social values, decide the life cycle of joint family in Indian society.

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