For a finite incidence structure with a set of blocks let [] be the number of points common with all blocks contained in . We define the functions M(t)(B1,…; B1)=ΣB [B1, B]…[B1,B], and, for every partition ϖ = ϖ1,…,ϖ1) of t, the function Mϖ(B1,…,B1) = Σ Πm [Bi | i ϵ Rm], sum over all decompositions {l, …, t} = R1, ⊃ … ⊃ Rl, |Rm| = ϖm. We show: If is t-fold balanced, then M(t) = Σϖ cϖMϖ, where the, coefficients cϖ are linear combinations of the parameters b1,…,bt, the constant numbers of blocks through any l,…, t distinct points. Conversely, if the rank of the b × b-matrix ([B, B∗])B,B∗ is equal to the number ν of points and M(t) is a rational linear combination of the functions Mϖ, then is t-fold balanced.