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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Bride Wealth and Household Security in Rural Zimbabwe
Authors:Dekker, MarleenISNI
Hoogeveen, HansISNI
Year:2002
Periodical:Journal of African Economies
Volume:11
Issue:1
Period:March
Pages:114-145
Language:English
Geographic term:Zimbabwe
Subjects:social networks
household budget
bridewealth
Women's Issues
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Economics and Trade
Cultural Roles
Marital Relations and Nuptiality
economics
Sex Roles
External link:https://jae.oxfordjournals.org/content/11/1/114.full.pdf
Abstract:This paper examines why Zimbabwean households pay bride wealth in instalments rather than a lump sum on the date of marriage. It also poses the question of why the type of cattle that has to be paid is not exactly specified. Starting from the observation that in rural Zimbabwe risk markets are absent it shows that flexibility in both timing and type of bride wealth payment enhances household security beyond what is feasible through income pooling between relatives related through marriage. The additional security results from the creation of a large pool of means-conditional, enforceable claims on assets that are vital for income generation and consumption smoothing purposes. The paper is based on various sources of qualitative and quantitative information collected between 1992 and 2001. App., bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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