At this stage, it could be Mike and Jane earning $36,000 and $24,000, and John just earning $60,000, but at an earlier stage you would have had the choice, where he was earning $40,000 and had to make the decision for his wife—or his whatever, his spouse—to go out and earn the extra $20,000.
À cette étape-ci, Mike et Jane gagnent 36 000 $ et 24 000 $ respectivement, et John gagne 60 000 $, mais à une étape antérieure, il gagnait 40 000 $ et devait décider si sa femme ou son conjoint devrait aller travailler pour gagner un autre revenu de 20 000 $.