THE DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION AND THE POSITION OF WOMEN: A MARRIAGE MARKET PERSPECTIVE

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bhaskar, V.
• 署名单位: University of Texas System; University of Texas Austin
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1093/ej/uez027
• 发表日期: 2019
• 页码: 2999-3024
• 关键词: sex-ratios; dowry; investments; AGE

摘要

Secular trends in cohort size cause large marriage market imbalances due to the age gap at marriage between men and women. Positive cohort growth adversely affects women in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Secular decline improves their position in East Asia. I show that the age gap at marriage will not adjust in order to equilibrate the marriage market in response to persistent imbalances, even though it accommodates transitory shocks. This implies large distributional consequences on the sexes, and may increase dowries. I also analyse transition dynamics between steady states and examine how age gaps and transfers adjust in the transition.