All of our empirical study indicates that inside rural Punjab, Pakistan, higher dowry amounts, specially when given within the variations apart from dollars/gold/precious jewelry, try in the a lady viewing an elevated condition in the marital family. The positive connection contributes suggestive proof your character from dowry in the outlying Punjab, Pakistan try a beneficial trousseau, and that is similar to the evaluate the bride’s parents voluntarily offer a higher dowry on the child, pregnant you to definitely she will be much better treated on the marital house. All of our results permit a new position into plan discussion regarding the customized of dowry when you look at the Pakistan, where dowry is not yet , lawfully banned but is a controversial policy question because of its alleged negative effects. Into the a community in which women do not inherit adult result in practice, an excellent dowry might be the only advantage that women usually takes on the relationships and you can serves as their simply supply of defense immediately after matrimony.
Point 2 overviews related browse and you will present data. Point step three means all of our novel domestic questionnaire together with dataset. Point cuatro gifts the new empirical abilities. Section 5 ends.
dos.step one Literary works to your dowry
Whether or not empirical evidence is scarce, economists provides earnestly used theoretical education toward dowry (Becker 1991; Botticini and Siow 2003; Anderson 2003, 2007; Boserup 2007). Both main interpretations out of dowry see it just like the (1) a cost determined on the marriage markets (speed design) and you may (2) the latest pre-mortem genetics (bequest model). The definition of dowry could have been the main topic of conversations one aim to define the characteristics. In accordance with the rate theory, dowry is frequently defined as an exchange of cash, gift suggestions, or both on bride’s parents towards groom along with his mothers during the time of relationships, that’s questioned otherwise necessary by bridegroom and his household members. But not, brand new bequest theory considers dowry because property pulled because of the bride to be so you’re able to her brand new home or given to their own for the matrimony traditions by their particular parents.
2 Relevant look and you will existing studies
Those two interpretations from dowry are felt mutually exclusive (Zhang and you may Chan 1999; Anderson 2003; Arunachalam and you may Logan 2016), and you will current training focus on the matter of whether dowry is, in reality, a cost or a bequest. Such as a definitive meaning is considered important since the 2 hypotheses are believed to guide so you can opposite rules ramifications. If the dowry are a pre-mortem bequest willingly offered by the fresh new bride’s mothers, rules prohibiting dowry behavior is almost certainly not requisite. If the dowry are a price which might be inspired right up in the current wedding markets the spot where the bride’s money-making feature or more peoples investment buildup does not apparently become very examined as compared with the latest groom’s, they potentially decreases girls’ otherwise wives’ probability of emergency; hence, their prohibition by-law may be good at increasing ladies interests.
Regardless if these two models are often thought mutually exclusive, typical empirical degree create an estimate model to check the price or even the bequest design separately; thus, eg degree dont refuse you to definitely over another even when it allege their efficiency service such as for instance a description. Men and women research the purchase price model generally speaking regress new dowry matter into the this new bride’s plus the groom’s characteristics (Behrman ainsi que al. 1995, 1999; Deolalikar and you can Rao 1998; Mbiti 2008), and more than of those see zero, or at most poor, proof giving support to the price model. Footnote nine Those individuals research the new bequest design usually regress ladies appeal measures into the number of dowry (Zhang and you can Chan 1999; Brownish 2009). They do say that discovering that dowry advances ladies Гstrigsk kvinder dating interests supports brand new bequest model; but not, new seeking will not always refute the purchase price model as women’s welfare you will definitely improve with a top dowry matter within the rates design. Possibly, dowry is determined on relationships markets, nevertheless the bride’s mothers ount therefore the bridegroom with his mothers commonly lose its daughter finest just after wedding.
