Using the law to change the custom

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Aldashev, Gani; Chaara, Imane; Platteau, Jean-Philippe; Wahhaj, Zaki
• 署名单位: University of Namur; University of Oxford; University of Namur
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2011.03.001
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 182-200
• 关键词: Custom; Statutory law; Legal reform

摘要

The custom often acts as a powerful hindrance to equity-increasing changes. In this paper, we present a simple model of legal dualism in which a progressive legal reform can, under certain conditions, shift the conflicting custom in the direction intended by the legislator. Formal law then acts as an outside anchor that exerts a 'magnet effect' on the custom. We also characterize the conditions under which a moderate reform performs better than a radical one in improving the welfare of the disadvantaged sections of the population. We illustrate our insights using examples on inheritance, marriage, and divorce in Sub-Saharan Africa and India. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.