African polygamy: Past and present

James Fenske

Journal of Development Economics, 2015, vol. 117, issue C, 58-73

Abstract: I evaluate the impact of education on polygamy in Africa. Districts of French West Africa that received more colonial teachers and parts of sub-Saharan Africa that received Protestant or Catholic missions have lower polygamy rates in the present. I find no evidence of a causal effect of modern education on polygamy. Natural experiments that have expanded education in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Kenya have not reduced polygamy. Colonial education and missionary education, then, have been more powerful sources of cultural change than the cases of modern schooling I consider.

Keywords: Polygamy; Africa; Ethnic institutions; Family structures (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (62)

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Working Paper: African polygamy: Past and present (2012)
Working Paper: African polygamy: Past and present (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:deveco:v:117:y:2015:i:c:p:58-73

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2015.06.005

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