A cut above the rest? Private anthropometrics in marriage markets

Nicholas Wilson and Martha Janicki

Economics & Human Biology, 2016, vol. 23, issue C, 164-179

Abstract: A large body of economic research suggests that publicly observable anthropometric characteristics affect labor and marriage market outcomes. Private anthropometrics may not affect these outcomes. We examine male circumcision in marriage markets in Zambia. Our analysis reveals substantial variation across local marriage markets in circumcision prevalence relative to preference for circumcised partners, as well as excess aggregate demand for circumcised males. Regression estimates suggest a marriage market premium of approximately one-half to one year of additional schooling for matching with a partner of preferred anthropometric type in a local marriage market with excess demand for that anthropometric characteristic.

Keywords: Anthropometrics; Circumcision; HIV/AIDS; Marriage markets; Matching markets; Zambia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D8 I1 J1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ehbiol:v:23:y:2016:i:c:p:164-179

DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2016.08.003

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