An evolutionary theory of monogamy

Marco Francesconi, Christian Ghiglino and Motty Perry

Journal of Economic Theory, 2016, vol. 166, issue C, 605-628

Abstract: This paper presents a non-cooperative evolutionary model to explain the widespread diffusion of lifelong monogamous families. The essential condition, unique to humans, is the overlap of children of different ages. Under this condition, together with the salience of paternal investment and fatherhood uncertainty, monogamy attains a greater survivorship than serial monogamy and polygyny. This result is robust to a number of extensions, including the presence of kin ties, resource inequality, group marriage, and the risk of adult mortality.

Keywords: Overlapping generations; Free riding; Serial monogamy; Polygyny, kinship; Social norms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 D01 D10 J12 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jetheo:v:166:y:2016:i:c:p:605-628

DOI: 10.1016/j.jet.2016.10.001

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