The Library
The mystery of monogamy
Tools
Gould, Eric D, Moav, Omer and Simhon, Avi (2008) The mystery of monogamy. American Economic Review, Vol.98 (No.1). pp. 333-357. doi:10.1257/aer.98.1.333 ISSN 0002-8282.
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1257/aer.98.1.333
Abstract
We examine why developed societies are monogamous while rich men throughout history have typically practiced polygyny. Wealth inequality naturally produces multiple wives for rich men in a standard model of the marriage market. However, we demonstrate that higher female inequality in the marriage market reduces polygyny. Moreover, we show that female inequality increases in the process of development as women are valued more for the quality of their children than for the quantity. Consequently, male inequality generates inequality in the number of wives per man in traditional societies, but manifests itself as inequality in the quality of wives in developed societies. (JEL J12, J16, J24, Z13)
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Economics | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | American Economic Review | ||||
Publisher: | American Economic Association | ||||
ISSN: | 0002-8282 | ||||
Official Date: | March 2008 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Volume: | Vol.98 | ||||
Number: | No.1 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 333-357 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1257/aer.98.1.333 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |