This paper was prepared as part of the preparatory phase for the UNRISD research project on Political and Social Economy of Care. The aim of the project is to examine the way in which care is provided and allocated between the family/household, state, market and “community”, and its articulation with the commodity economy in different countries. The country case studies describe the institutional shape of the various “care regimes” and provide micro-level quantitative analysis of how women, men, girls and boys within households “take care” of other household members: and explore the implications of the findings for poverty and social exclusion.