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77 Calif. L. Rev. 1 (1989)
The Theory of Alimony

handle is hein.journals/calr77 and id is 15 raw text is: California Law Review VOL. 77 JANUARY 1989 No. 1 Copyright © 1989 by California Law Review, Inc. The Theory of Alimony Ira Mark Ellman TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Introduction ........................................ 3 I. The Futility of Contract and Partnership Concepts ......... 13 A. The Failure of the Contract Analogy ................. 13 1. The Appeal of Contract Concepts ................. 13 a. Contracts Concerning the Termination of the M arriage ...................................... 14 b. Contracts Concerning the Conduct of the M arriage ...................................... 16 i. Applying Ordinary Contract Rules ......... 16 ii. Extending Implied Contract Principles ...... 20 2. Is Contract Just a Means for Reintroducing Fault?. 23 3. The Failure of the Restitution Analogy ............ 24 4. The Failure of the Relational Contract Analogy ... 28 5. Conclusion ....................................... 32 B. The Failure of the Partnership Analogy ............... 33 II. Toward a Noncontractual Theory of Alimony ............. 40 A. The Function of Alimony in Encouraging Marital Investm ent ........................................... 40 1. Identifying the Problem that Contract Can't Solve: What Is the Wife's Loss? .......................... 40 2. Reconceptualizing Alimony as the Solution to the Problem .......................................... 49 B. Redefining Alimony as Compensable Marital Investment: Basic Principles .......................... 53 1. Principle One: A Spouse Is Entitled to Alimony Only When He or She Has Made a Marital Investment Resulting in a Postmarriage Reduction in Earning Capacity ............................... 53

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