Marriage in Transition: Evidence on Assets, Education, and Age at Marriage from Six Developing Countries

Agnes R. Quisumbing, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

This paper examines the determinants of human capital and assets at marriage of husband and wife and conditions surrounding marriage in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Mexico, the Philippines, and South Africa. We estimate similar regressions for all countries: (1) regressions on levels of age, human capital (education), and assets at marriage, separately for husband and wife; and (2) regressions on differences in age, human capital, and assets at marriage. Both parental background and time trends are important determinants of age at marriage and resources at marriage. In most countries, education and age differences are narrowing over time, but asset differences remain the same or increase. In most countries, husbands bring more assets and education to marriage if the husband’s family is wealthier (or more educated) than the wife’s family, indicating that inequality between families is reproduced in the marriages of the next generation.