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The Mystery of MonogamyEric D. GouldHebrew University of Jerusalem - Department of Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Omer MoavHebrew University of Jerusalem - Department of Economics; University of Warwick - Department of Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) Avi SimhonHebrew University of Jerusalem American Economic Review, Vol. 98, No. 1, 2008 Abstract: We examine why developed countries are monogamous while rich men throughout history have typically practiced polygyny. Wealth inequality naturally produces multiple wives for rich men in a standard model of the marriage market. However, we demonstrate that higher female inequality in the marriage market reduces polygyny. Moreover, we show that female inequality increases in the process of development as women are valued more for the quality of their children versus their quantity. Consequently, male inequality generates inequality in the number of wives per man in traditional societies, but manifests itself as inequality in the quality of wives in developed societies.
JEL Classification: J12, J24, O10, O40 Accepted Paper SeriesDate posted: April 29, 2008Suggested CitationContact Information
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