Productivity, Rank, and Returns in Polygamy.

Area of Science:

• Socioeconomics
• Family Studies
• Development Economics

Background:

• Polygamous family structures present unique dynamics regarding spousal hierarchy and resource allocation.
• Maternal characteristics and their influence on child outcomes are crucial in understanding family well-being.
• The concept of 'wife order' or seniority significantly shapes intra-household dynamics and decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the development of family structures within polygamous contexts, focusing on the role of wife order.
• To explain the link between children's outcomes and their mothers' status, considering observable maternal traits.
• To propose and test a framework where female productivity influences marriage market selection and intra-household resource allocation.

Main Methods:

• Development of a theoretical framework linking female productivity to marriage market selection and bargaining power.
• Empirical analysis using household survey data from rural Ethiopia.
• Examination of the relationship between indicators of female productivity and women's seniority (wife order).

Main Results:

• A positive association was found between indicators of female productivity and a wife's seniority among co-wives.
• Higher productivity among women correlates with a greater share of family income for consumption and investment.
• Replication of existing evidence showing a relationship between wife order and children's educational outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Female productivity is a key factor in selection into higher ranks among wives in polygamous settings.
• Wife's productivity influences her bargaining power over resources, positively impacting her and her children's well-being.
• The findings underscore the importance of maternal productivity in shaping family structure and child development outcomes in polygamous societies.