Development Economics Working Group

Marriage Markets and the Rise of Dowry in India (VIRTUAL)

Wed
Mar
31
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Date
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Time
12:30pm
Event Type
Development Economics Working Group
Research Themes
In accordance with University guidelines on limiting public gatherings, this event will be offered virtually via Zoom. Those interested in attending should contact Taryn Dinkelman, or John Firth for instructions on how to join by computer or phone.

Jeff Weaver
Assistant Professor of Economics
University of Southern California

Abstract: Dowry payments are common in many marriage markets. This paper uses data on over 74,000 marriages in India over the last century to explain why the institution of dowry emerges and how it evolves over time. We find that the proportion of Indian marriages including dowry payments doubled between 1930 and 1975, and the average real value of payments tripled. We empirically test whether four prominent theories of dowry can explain this rise, and find support for only one: dowry emerges due to increased differentiation in groom quality as a result of modernization. We then show that the average real value of dowry payments declines after 1975 and that this can be rationalized by a search model of marriage markets.

The Development Economics Working Group supports graduate and faculty research in the economic determinants of human development and how economic policy can be used to promote human development. It promotes dialogue among researchers with different areas of expertise, from a variety of perspectives and subject areas, uch as health, education, infrastructure, governance, and migration. Regular meetings allow participants to workshop research in progress, while occasional seminars bring external researchers to campus to discuss their work and provide feedback on projects of group members.
Cochairs: Taryn Dinkelman and John Firth