Gurven, Michael, Hopfensitz, Astrid, Kaplan, Hillard and Stieglitz, Jonathan (2017) Why household inefficiency? An experimental approach to assess spousal resource distribution preferences in a subsistence population undergoing socioeconomic change. Evolution and Human Behavior, 38 (1). pp. 71-81.

This is the latest version of this item.

[thumbnail of wp_iast_1636.pdf]
Preview
Text
Download (598kB) | Preview
Identification Number : 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2016.07.002

Abstract

Two disparate views of the sexual division of labour have dominated the 53 representation of intra-household resource allocations. These joint and separate interests 54 views differ in their interpretation of the relative roles of men and women, and make different 55 predictions about the extent to which marriage promotes economic efficiency (i.e. maximized 56 household production). Using an experimental “distribution task” stipulating a trade-off 57 between household efficiency and spousal equality in allocating surpluses of meat and 58 money, we examine factors influencing spousal distribution preferences among Tsimane 59 forager-horticulturalists of Bolivia (n=53 couples). Our primary goal is to understand whether 60 and how access to perfectly fungible and liquid resources – which increases with greater 61 participation in market economies – shifts intra-household distribution preferences. We 62 hypothesize that greater fungibility of money compared to meat results in greater squandering 63 of money for individual fitness gain at a cost to the family. Money therefore requires costly 64 strategies to insure against a partner’s claims for consumption. Whereas nearly all Tsimane 65 spouses prefer efficient meat distributions, we find a substantially reduced efficiency 66 preference for money compared to meat controlling for potential confounders (adjusted 67 OR=0.087, 95% CI: 0.02-0.38). Reported marital conflict over paternal disinvestment is 68 associated with a nearly 13-fold increase in odds of revealing a selfish money distribution 69 preference. Selfish husbands are significantly more likely than other husbands to be paired 70 with selfish wives. Lastly, Tsimane husbands and wives are more likely than Western 71 Europeans to prefer an efficient money distribution, but Tsimane wives are more likely than 72 Western European wives to exhibit a selfish preference. In sum, preferences for the 73 distribution of household production surplus support joint and separate interests views of 74 marriage; a hybrid approach best explains how ecological-, family-, and individual-level 75 factors influence spousal preferences through their effects on perceptions of marginal gains 76 within and outside the household.

Item Type: Article
Language: English
Date: January 2017
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Intra-household distribution, sexual division of labour, family, marriage, bargaining, Tsimane
JEL Classification: C90 - General
D13 - Household Production and Intrahousehold Allocation
Subjects: B- ECONOMIE ET FINANCE
Divisions: TSE-R (Toulouse)
Site: UT1
Date Deposited: 14 Sep 2016 07:31
Last Modified: 02 Apr 2021 15:54
OAI Identifier: oai:tse-fr.eu:30800
URI: https://publications.ut-capitole.fr/id/eprint/22365

Available Versions of this Item

View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year