Productivity, Rank, and Returns in Polygamy

Abstract

This study sheds light on the development of family structures in a polygamous context with a particular emphasis on wife order, and offers an explanation for the association between outcomes of children and the status of their mothers among wives based on observable maternal characteristics. In a simple framework, I propose that selection into rank among wives with respect to female productivity takes place: highly productive women are more strongly demanded in the marriage market than less productive women, giving them a higher chance of becoming first wives. Furthermore, productivity is positively associated with a wife's bargained share of family income to be spent on consumption and investment for herself and her offspring because of greater contributions to family income and larger outside options. The findings are empirically supported by a positive relationship between indicators of female productivity and women's levels of seniority among wives, and by a concise replication of existing evidence relating wife order to children's educational outcomes in household survey data from rural Ethiopia.

Polygynous marriage and child health in sub-Saharan Africa: What is the evidence for harm?

“…Several studies have also presented evidence that polygyny is associated with stratification among women in competition for marriage placements, with, for example, relatively lower status women most likely to sort into polygynous marriages, particularly as second or later wives (e.g., in Ethiopia: Matz 2016; Mace 2007, in Nigeria: Arthi andFenske 2018). In Ethiopia for example, Matz (2016) reports that first wives have wealthier family backgrounds than later wives, while Gibson and Mace (2007) suggest that stratification is indicated by differences in the bridewealth transfers exchanged at entrance to initially monogamous vs. polygynous marriages, with higher bridewealth for first wives compared to second or later wives.…”

“…Antoine and Nanitelamio (1996) report a similar lack of socioeconomic differences between monogamous and polygynous individuals in urban Senegal. While the types of individuals that are most likely to experience polygyny may vary, and the patterns are not always well understood, the relevant implication for this review is that any degree of non-random selection into polygyny undermines our ability to infer causality in correlational studies of polygyny and child health (see also discussion in: Arthi and Fenske 2018;Gibson and Mace 2007;Matz 2016).…”

“…Alternatively, women of good health/social standing may be less likely to enter polygynous marriages as later wives, leading to downstream health disparities for children of first vs. later co-wives. In this case, differences in child outcomes cannot be seen as a consequence of polygyny but rather of the non-random selection of certain women in polygynous marriages as later co-wives (Gibson and Mace 2007, see also Matz 2016). Strassmann (2011), on the other hand, presents a different pattern of results by wife-order among the Dogon of Mali, whereby children of second, third, or fourth wives have intermediate nutritional status compared to children of first wives who do relatively poorly, and children of sole monogamous wives who are in relatively good health (Stassmann 2011: 10897).…”

“…However, a meaningful understanding of the consequences of polygyny can only be formed by first appreciating why, even in highly polygynous populations, not all women end up in polygynous marriages. Given the paucity of studies that have attempted to address this issue, particularly via longitudinal data, it remains possible that in many cases the selection of women of relatively poor health or social standing into polygynous marriages may be responsible for reported negative relationships between polygyny and child health (see discussion in Arthi and Fenske 2018;Gibson and Mace 2007;Matz 2016). For example, supporting this conclusion after finding evidence of selection effects among the Igbo of Nigeria, Arthi and Fenske (2018: 128) conclude: "a key implication of our results is that although membership in polygynous households may be an easy way to identify at-risk children, polygamy as a marital institution is unlikely to cause child morality.…”

Basic Life Skills Required by Girl-Children to Overcome Adversities of Polygamy in Etsako Nigeria

“…Polygamy is a prominent feature of many societies in the sub-Saharan Africa (Matz, 2016). Polygamy is common practice in areas where subsistence farming requires a large labor force, serving as a means…”