Estimating the Health and Socioeconomic Effects of Cousin Marriage in South Asia

Bibliographic Data

ID24076319
AuthorsAhmed Mushfiq Mobarak (0000-0002-1916-3438, Deakin University, corresponding author), Theresa Chaudhry (0000-0002-3248-8018, Lahore School of Economics), Julia Brown (0000-0002-2719-7064, University of Maryland, College Park), Tetyana Zelenska (Landesa Rural Development Institute), M Nizam Khan (International Epidemiology Institute), Shamyla Chaudry (Lahore School of Economics), Rana Abdul Wajid (Lahore School of Economics), A H Bittles (0000-0002-8176-2730, Edith Cowan University), Steven Li (0000-0002-9190-4034, Interface (United States))
Year2019
Volume51
Issue3
Pages418-435
Publication date2019-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Biosocial Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-9320 • E-ISSN: 1469-7599
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0021932018000275
PMID30289091
OpenAlexW2895620774
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited30

The effects of marriage between biological relatives on the incidence of childhood genetic illness and mortality are of major policy significance, as rates of consanguinity exceed 50% in various countries. Empirical research on this question is complicated by the fact that consanguinity is often correlated with poverty and other unobserved characteristics of households, which may have independent effects on mortality. This study has developed an instrumental variables empirical strategy to re-examine this question, based on the concept that the availability of unmarried cousins of the opposite gender at the time of marriage creates quasi-random variation in the propensity to marry consanguineously. Using primary data collected in Bangladesh in 2006–07 and Pakistan in 2009–10, the study found that previous estimates of the impact of consanguinity on child health were biased and falsely precise. The study also empirically investigated the social and economic causes of consanguinity (including marital quality) and concludes that marrying a cousin can have positive economic effects for one’s natal family, by allowing deferral of dowry payments until after marriage.

Consanguineous Marriage · Consanguinity · Demographic economics · Developing country · Dowry · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Infant mortality · Political science · Population · Poverty · Socioeconomic status · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Pediatrics