The mystery of monogamy

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Gould, Eric D.; Moav, Omer; Simhon, Avi
• 署名单位: Hebrew University of Jerusalem; IZA Institute Labor Economics; University of London; Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.98.1.333
• 发表日期: 2008
• 页码: 333-357
• 关键词: economic-growth; mating systems; Polygyny; INEQUALITY; fertility; CHILDREN; selection; EVOLUTION; ecology

摘要

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. More-over, 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.