Islamic Law and Investments in Children: Evidence from the Sharia Introduction in Nigeria

Marco Alfano ()
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Marco Alfano: Department of Economics, University of Strathclyde

No 1701, RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series from Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM)

Abstract: Islamic law lays down detailed rules regulating the upbringing of children. This study examines the effect of such rules on parental behaviour by analysing the introduction of Sharia law in northern Nigeria. The empirical strategy exploits variation across administrative areas, time and religion together with the fact that the historical homelands of some Nigerian ethnicities fall into both states that introduced Islamic laws and states that did not. Estimates show that the introduction of Sharia law increased fertility, the duration of breastfeeding and primary school enrolment. Evidence further suggests that the Sharia affected behaviour by increasing the economic returns to sons and by raising the value of conspicuous adherence to Islam.

Keywords: Islam; Fertility; Breastfeeding; Nigeria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J12 J13 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev and nep-evo
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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