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Marry for What? Caste and Mate Selection in Modern India

Author(s)
Banerjee, Abhijit; Duflo, Esther; Ghatak, Maitreesh; Lafortune, Jeanne
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Abstract
This paper analyzes how preferences for a noneconomic characteristic (e.g., caste) can affect equilibrium patterns of matching, and empirically evaluates this in the context of middle-class Indian arranged marriages. We show theoretically how the equilibrium consequences of caste depend on whether preferences are towards one's own group or for "marrying up." We then estimate actual preferences for caste and other attributes using a unique dataset of individuals who placed matrimonial advertisements and find only a strong preference for in-caste marriage. This translates, in equilibrium, in caste doing little to alter the matching patterns on non-caste attributes.
Date issued
2013-05
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/82613
Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Economics
Journal
American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
Publisher
American Economic Association
Citation
Banerjee, Abhijit, Esther Duflo, Maitreesh Ghatak, and Jeanne Lafortune. “Marry for What? Caste and Mate Selection in Modern India.” American Economic Journal: Microeconomics 5, no. 2 (May 2013): 33-72.
Version: Final published version
ISSN
1945-7669
1945-7685

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