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IZA
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From Polygyny to Serial Monogamy: A Unified Theory of Marriage Institutions
by
David de la Croix, Fabio Mariani
(May 2012)
published in: Review of Economic Studies, 2015, 82(2), 565-607
Abstract:
Consider an economy populated by males and females, both rich and poor. The society has to choose one of the following marriage institutions: polygyny, strict monogamy, and serial monogamy (divorce and remarriage). After having identified the conditions under which each of these equilibria exists, we show that a rise in the share of rich males can explain a change of regime from polygyny to monogamy. The introduction of serial monogamy follows from a further rise in either the proportion of rich males, or an increase in the proportion of rich females. Strict monogamy is a prerequisite to serial monogamy, as it promotes the upward social mobility of females more than polygyny. We also show that polygyny is compatible with democracy.
Text: See Discussion Paper No. 6599 
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