The Love Revolution: Decline in Arranged Marriages in Asia, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa
نویسنده
چکیده
Arranged marriages have existed in many societies throughout time, they have acted as a mechanism that allows two families to enter into an informal contract (for example, informal insurance arrangements) that will provide benefits to their members: create political alliances, ensure consumption smoothing, facilitate economic transactions, consolidate power, increase wealth, among others. In Europe, they disappeared towards the 12th century, remaining popular only among the wealthy class finally disappearing after the Industrial Revolution. In the East (Asia and Africa), they remained to be the most popular marriage institution until the middle of the 20th century. This paper documents a striking decline in arranged marriages in Asia, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. It also documents the patterns of the transition, finding that women in arranged marriages tend to live in rural areas, have lower education, belong to agricultural households, and being engaged in non-paid activities. These findings allow me to suggest one main hypothesis regarding the causes behind their disappearance: the decline in the net benefits of arranged marriages relative to an (increasing) outside option. I propose and discuss several of economic changes that could lead to shift in this margin: increase in income covariance, change in type of risk (mean and variance of income), availability of substitutes, increase in asymmetric information and limited commitment, change in bargaining power of children, and alternative explanations related to changes in marriage markets. Finally, I briefly analyze some potential welfare consequences of the transition by focusing on measures of domestic violence. I find that women having an arranged marriages are more prone to support domestic abuse.
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تاریخ انتشار 2014