Forced Marriages, Bride Price, Levirate, and Domestic Violence

2013 ◽  
pp. 271-288
Author(s):  
VICTORIA TIME
Author(s):  
Sara Lowes ◽  
Nathan Nunn

Bride price, a payment from the groom to the bride’s family at the time of marriage, is a common cultural practice in many African societies. We examine the relationship between the bride price amount and a range of outcomes using a sample of 317 couples from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Motivated by common concerns associated with high bride price, we examine whether payment of a higher bride price is associated with earlier marriage and higher fertility; a greater acceptance of domestic violence; decreased ability of the wife to leave her husband; lower-quality marriages; and lower levels of happiness for the wife. We find evidence that women for whom a high bride price was paid are less accepting of domestic violence and are happier.


1999 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Ellsberg ◽  
Trinidad Caldera ◽  
Andrés Herrera ◽  
Anna Winkvist ◽  
Gunnar Kullgren

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