The Mystery of Monogamy

Eric D. Gould, Omer Moav () and Avi Simhon

No 4803, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: This Paper examines why developed countries are monogamous while rich men throughout history have tended to practice polygyny (multiple wives). Wealth inequality naturally produces multiple wives for rich men in a standard model of the marriage market where polygyny is not ruled out. Our model demonstrates, however, that while higher male inequality generates more polygyny, higher female inequality produces a more monogamous equilibrium. Moreover, we derive how female inequality in the marriage market is higher in equilibrium as women are valued more for their quality versus quantity of children when human capital becomes more important in determining the distribution of income. As a result, male inequality in traditional societies generates inequality in the number of wives per man, but male inequality in developed societies, where human capital is a larger source of income and inequality, manifests itself as inequality in the quality of their wives. Using data from Cote d’Ivoire, we provide supporting evidence for the main implications of the model.

Keywords: human capital; inequality; marriage; mongamy; polygyny (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J12 J24 O10 O40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: Written
View citations in EconPapers

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.cepr.org/pubs/dps/DP4803.asp (application/pdf)
CEPR Discussion Papers are free to download for our researchers, subscribers and members. If you fall into one of these categories but have trouble downloading our papers, please contact us at subscribers@cepr.org

Related works:
Working Paper: The Mystery of Monogamy (2005)
Working Paper: THE MYSTERY OF MONOGAMY (2003)
Journal Article: The Mystery of Monogamy (2008)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:4803

Ordering information: This working paper can be ordered from
http://www.cepr.org/pubs/dps/DP4803.asp

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers
Address: Centre for Economic Policy Research, 53--56 Great Sutton Street, London EC1V 0DG
Series data maintained by ().