To estimate an equation explaining the determinants of Dowry

Subhani, Muhammad Imtiaz and Afza, Sarwat (2009): To estimate an equation explaining the determinants of Dowry.

Abstract

The focus of this study is to estimate an equation explaining the determinants of dowry. In this paper, we address a very common socio-economic problem for sub-continent, the problem of dowry. From a social planner's perspective, who wants to reduce overall dowry transfers, we consider the effect of change in a few relevant parameters like husband height, wife height, wet land, dry land, years of marriage and years of education for women & men on these decisions. According to the various studies the dowry phenomenon is exist heavily in rural sub-continent, at the same time research related to this system is very rare. The aim of this paper is to estimate an equation explaining the determinants of dowry. Several interpretations for dowry are distinguished using a simple theoretical framework and the predictions of this model are tested. Using the data provided us for this project is tested and reliable so that we will be able to draw our own testable relationships and determinants of dowry. The data will be use in the following sections for further analysis by estimating the determinants of dowry using multiple regression analysis. The study suggests that even though there are religious and cultural differences, the system of dowry in Pakistan appears to be for the same reasons as in India A theoretical framework was developed that was inclusive of all the required variables by testing through the multiple regression analysis and the experimental findings shows the independent variable used to test have an impact on dowry by applying multiple regression step-wise method.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Dowry, Household, Jahez, Marriage
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D7 - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making > D71 - Social Choice ; Clubs ; Committees ; Associations; A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A13 - Relation of Economics to Social Values; J - Labor and Demographic Economics > J1 - Demographic Economics > J12 - Marriage ; Marital Dissolution ; Family Structure ; Domestic Abuse

References

Afzal, M., L. Bean, and I. Husain (1973) \Muslim Marriages: Age, Mahr, and Social Status", Pakistan Development Review, Vol. XII, No. 1, 48-61.

Ahmed, Rahnuma and Naher, Milu Shamsun (1987) Brides and the Demand System in Bangladesh: A Study. Dhaka: Centre for Social Studies.

Alam, Sultana and Matin, Nilufer (1984) „Limiting the Women‟s Issues in Bangladesh: The Western and Bangladesh Legacy‟, South Asia Buletin 4(2): 1–10.

Anderson, Siwan. 2000. "The economics of dowry payments in Pakistan," mimeo, Tilburg University Discussion Paper 82, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.

Anderson, S., 2001. "Why dowry payments declined with modernization in Europe but are rising in India," Discussion Paper 7, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.

Ansari, A.S. Bazmee (1978) „Is Dowry Obligatory?‟, Hamdard Islamicus 1(2): 78–84.

Apte, U.M. (1978) The Sacrament of Marriage in Hindu Society. Delhi: Ajanta Publications. BNWLA (2005) Violence Against Women in Bangladesh 2004. Dhaka: Bangladesh National Women‟s Lawyers Association.

Arunachalam, Raj and Logan, Trevon (2008), “Is there Dowry Inflation in South Asia?” NBER Working Paper No.13905. Birodkar Sudheer (1994) Dowry, in the “Dowry, Sati and Child Marriage” on Hindu History & Social Customs.

Botticini, Maristella & Siow, Aloysius (2000). "Why Dowries?," Econometric Society World Congress 2000 Contributed Papers 0200, Econometric Society. Chauhan, R. (1995) Dowry in twentieth century India: a window to the convict of caste, class, and gender, Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Sociology, State University of New York at Stony Brook. 10

Dalmia, S. 2004. “A Hedonic Analysis of Marriage Transactions in India: Estimating Determinants of Dowries and Demand for Groom Characteristics in Marriage,” Research in Economics 58: 235-255.

Donnan, H. (1988) Marriage among Muslims: Preference and choice in Northern Pakistan. Hindustan Publishing Co., Delhi. Goody, J. (1976) Production and Reproduction, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Goody, J. and S. Tambiah (1973) Bridewealth and Dowry. Cambridge University Press, Cam-bridge.

Hughes, D.O. (1985) “From Brideprice to dowry in Mediterranean Europe" in the marriage bargains: women and dowries in European history, M. Kaplan (ed.), Havorth Press, New York, 13-58.

Jhabval, Noshirvan H. (1981) Principles of Hindu Law. Bombay: C. Jamnadas & Co. Kishwar, Madhu (1988) „Rethinking Dowry Boycott‟, Manushi 48: 10–13.

Korson, J. H. (1971) \Endogamous marriage in a traditional Muslim society: West Pakistan". Journal of Comparative Family Studies, Autumn, 145-155.

Korson, J. H. and M. Sabzwari (1984) “Age and social status at marriage, Karachi, Pakistan 1961-64 and 1980: a comparative study." Journal of Comparative Family Studies, Vol. XV, No.2, 257-279.

Kumari, R. (1989) Brides are not for burning. Dowry victims in India. Radiant Publishers, New Delhi.

Lata, P.M. (1990) “Violence within family: experiences of a feminist support group" in Violence against women (ed.) Sushama Sood, 223-235, Arihant Publishers, Jaipur.

Lindenbaum, Shirley (1975) „The Value of Women”, in John R. Mclane (ed.) Bengal in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries: South Asia Series Occasional Paper No. 25 (pp. 75–83).

McCoid, C. (1989)Dowry deaths in India: a materialist analysis. "Working Paper 188, One of Women in International Development, Michigan State University.

Miller, Barbara D. (1980) „Female Neglect and the Costs of Marriage in Rural India‟, Contributions to Indian Sociology 14(1): 95–129.

Patel, R. (1979) Women and the law in Pakistan. Fazia Publishers, Karachi.

Pathak, I. (1990) Women and family violence: policies and programs" in Violence against women” (ed.) Sushama Sood, 259-265, Arihant Publishers, Jaipur.