An economic model of early marriage

Zaki Wahhaj

doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2018.06.001

An economic model of early marriage

Zaki Wahhaj

International Development

University of Kent

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To explain female adolescent marriage patterns around the world, we develop a marriage market model with asymmetric information about prospective marriage partners, and a noisy signal about the bride's quality during an engagement. In equilibrium, there is a negative relationship between the age and perceived quality of women on the marriage market and, consistent with available evidence, older brides make higher net marriage payments. The model also implies path dependence in the evolution of adolescent marriage practices over time and persistent effects on marriage practices from transitory shocks. Model simulations show interventions which increase the opportunity cost of early marriage attenuates the association between bride quality and age, triggering a virtuous cycle of marriage postponement.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	147-176
Number of pages	30
Journal	Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Volume	152
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2018.06.001
Publication status	Published - Aug 2018

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 5 Gender Equality

Keywords

Adolescent development
Dowry
Fertility
Gender
Marriage market

Access to Document

10.1016/j.jebo.2018.06.001

Cite this

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title = "An economic model of early marriage",

abstract = "To explain female adolescent marriage patterns around the world, we develop a marriage market model with asymmetric information about prospective marriage partners, and a noisy signal about the bride's quality during an engagement. In equilibrium, there is a negative relationship between the age and perceived quality of women on the marriage market and, consistent with available evidence, older brides make higher net marriage payments. The model also implies path dependence in the evolution of adolescent marriage practices over time and persistent effects on marriage practices from transitory shocks. Model simulations show interventions which increase the opportunity cost of early marriage attenuates the association between bride quality and age, triggering a virtuous cycle of marriage postponement.",

keywords = "Adolescent development, Dowry, Fertility, Gender, Marriage market",

author = "Zaki Wahhaj",

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AU - Wahhaj, Zaki

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AB - To explain female adolescent marriage patterns around the world, we develop a marriage market model with asymmetric information about prospective marriage partners, and a noisy signal about the bride's quality during an engagement. In equilibrium, there is a negative relationship between the age and perceived quality of women on the marriage market and, consistent with available evidence, older brides make higher net marriage payments. The model also implies path dependence in the evolution of adolescent marriage practices over time and persistent effects on marriage practices from transitory shocks. Model simulations show interventions which increase the opportunity cost of early marriage attenuates the association between bride quality and age, triggering a virtuous cycle of marriage postponement.

KW - Adolescent development

KW - Dowry

KW - Fertility

KW - Gender

KW - Marriage market

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DO - 10.1016/j.jebo.2018.06.001

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85049337509

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VL - 152

SP - 147

EP - 176

JO - Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization

JF - Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization

ER -

An economic model of early marriage

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

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Can the Law Affect Attitudes and Behaviour in the Absence of Strict Enforcement? Experimental Evidence from a Child Marriage Reform in Bangladesh

The Economics of Early Marriage: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Solutions

Child marriage, climate vulnerability and natural disasters in coastal Bangladesh

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