From Shame to Game in One Hundred Years: The Rise in Premarital Sex and its Destigmitization

Jeremy Greenwood, Nezih Guner and Fernández-Villaverde, Jesús
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde

No 8667, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Societies socialize children about sex. This is done in the presence of peer-group effects, which may encourage undesirable behavior. Parents want the best for their children. Still, they weigh the marginal gains from socializing their children against its costs. Churches and states may stigmatize sex, both because of a concern about the welfare of their flocks and the need to control the cost of charity associated with out-of-wedlock births. Modern contraceptives have profoundly affected the calculus for instilling sexual mores. As contraception has improved there is less need for parents, churches and states to inculcate sexual mores. Technology affects culture.

Keywords: Add health; Children; Church and state; Contraception; Culture; Out-of-wedlock births; Parents; Peer- group effects; Premarital sex; Shame (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E1 E13 J10 J13 N0 O11 O33 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-11
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem and nep-ias
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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