University of British Columbia, Canada
IZA World of Labor role
Author
Current position
Associate Professor, Vancouver School of Economics, Canada
Research interest
Development economics, economics of gender
Past positions
Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia, Canada
Qualifications
PhD Economics, University of British Columbia, 1999
Selected publications
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“Missing women: Age and disease.” Review of Economic Studies 77 (October 2010): 1262–1300 (with D. Ray).
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“The economics of dowry and brideprice.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 21:4 (2007): 151–174.
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“Why the marriage squeeze cannot cause dowry inflation.” Journal of Economic Theory 137:1 (2007): 140–152.
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“Why dowry payments declined with modernization in Europe but are rising in India.” Journal of Political Economy 111 (April 2003): 269–310.
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“The economics of roscas and intra-household resource allocation.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 117 (August 2002): 963–995 (with J.-M. Baland).
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Human capital effects of marriage payments
Investing in female human capital can reduce brideprice and dowry practices and increase welfare
Siwan Anderson, September 2014Payments at the time of marriage, which are ubiquitous in developing countries, can be substantial enough to impoverish parents. Brideprice and dowry have both been linked to domestic violence against women, and inflation in these payments has prompted legislation against them in several jurisdictions. Marriage payments are often a substitute for investment in female human capital, so from a welfare and policy perspective, they should be prohibited. This highlights the importance of promoting direct economic returns over legal and customary rights.MoreLess