Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP17108
Authors: Siwan Anderson; Chris Bidner
Abstract: An institutional perspective emphasizes the fact that behaviour is shaped by rules that humans superimpose on their economic environment. In the context of the family, such rules govern vital processes such as family formation, dissolution, and inter-generational property transmission. Here we outline such a perspective, showing that it has important implications for policy and represents a relatively under-explored area of research in the economics of the family. We first document the extensive and systematic variation in family rules that exists both contemporaneously and historically. We then show that understanding this variation is important, yet under-appreciated, by drawing together a broad range of research that studies the far reaching consequences of family rules. We proceed with a structured review of existing research that attempts to understand the origins of various family rules. The institutional perspective makes clear that much important and exciting work remains to be done in terms of understanding the origin of the rules that govern family-related behaviour.
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JEL Codes: No JEL codes provided
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| variation in family rules (J12) | behaviors related to family dynamics (J12) |
| rules governing family life (J12) | who can marry whom (J12) |
| rules governing family life (J12) | conditions under which marriages can dissolve (J12) |
| emergence of legal rules prohibiting polygyny (J12) | decline of polygyny (J12) |
| changes in divorce laws (K36) | decreases in domestic violence (J12) |
| changes in divorce laws (K36) | decreases in female suicide rates (J12) |