This issue of the Bulletin arises from a workshop on 'Household Arrangements as a Factor in Adjustment' held at the IDS in January 1990. It was convened as a way of furthering work within the IDS on the gender dimension in the analysis of the social impact of structural adjustment in developing countries (see Humphrey, Joekes and Kabeer, forthcoming). Most of the papers were the basis or are elaborations of presentations made at the workshop, and others are contributions from persons working in the field who were unable to attend.