The impact of economic conditions on two-earner families was examined. Three family types were studied: (1) dual-career family--both the husband and wife are in the labor force but in occupations classified as professional-technical or managerial; (2) dual-earner--both the husband and wife are in the labor force; and (3) traditional family--the husband is the only earner. Telephone and personal interviews were conducted with a subsample (N=3,194) of the 1982 Panel Study of Income Dynamics (Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, the University of Michigan). Results showed that the dual-career family is different in make-up and in income generation from either the dual-earner or traditional family. Dual-career wives and husbands tend to be older and have fewer children and higher personal income; they tend to have higher educational levels, are more likely to be white, and are less likely to be unemployed. Dual-career families have higher total income and are more likely to own their own homes, and to have higher home values. Overall, the dual-career family was found to be doing better economically than either the dual-earner or traditional family. (RM)