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Economics at the cinema: learning from a story of child marriage

Author

Listed:
  • Martina Menon

    (University of Verona)

  • Federico Perali

    (University of Verona)

  • Nathalie Picard

    (University of Strasbourg)

  • Veronica Polin

    (University of Verona)

Abstract

Difret dramatizes the true story of a young Ethiopian girl, Aberash Bekele, Hirut Assefa in the movie, victim of a rural tradition of abducting girls for marriage. The title of the movie is highly evocative because in Amharic, the official working language of Ethiopia, Difret means both rape and courage. In the movie, courage refers to the fearless behavior of both Hirut, first girl reacting to a deeply rooted male-dominated social norm, and Meaza, the lawyer volunteering to offer legal protection to Hirut and committed to make abduction for marriage illegal in Ethiopia. We first narrate the story that unfolds through captivating and intense dialogues. We then propose an interpretation through the lenses of a social scientist striving to separate sociocultural and economic factors contributing to the persistence of child marriage. Finally, we ask what actions, either field programs or other products of the movie industry, can be effective towards ending illegal child marriage.

Suggested Citation

  • Martina Menon & Federico Perali & Nathalie Picard & Veronica Polin, 2023. "Economics at the cinema: learning from a story of child marriage," Working Papers 16, SITES.
    • Handle: RePEc:awm:wpaper:16
    Note: SITES Working Papers 16
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John E. Roemer & Alain Trannoy, 2016. "Equality of Opportunity: Theory and Measurement," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 54(4), pages 1288-1332, December.
    2. Elster, Jon, 1989. "Social Norms and Economic Theory," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 3(4), pages 99-117, Fall.
    3. Streeten, Paul, 2006. "Culture and Economic Development," Handbook of the Economics of Art and Culture, in: V.A. Ginsburgh & D. Throsby (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Art and Culture, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 13, pages 399-412, Elsevier.
    4. Vinci Chow & Eva Vivalt, 2022. "Challenges in Changing Social Norms: Evidence from Interventions Targeting Child Marriage in Ethiopia," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 31(3), pages 183-210.
    5. Getachew Yirga Belete & Martina Menon & Federico Perali, 2022. "Children’s Resources and Poverty: A Collective Consumption Evidence from Ethiopia," Working Papers 1, SITES.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Child marriage; Gender inequality; Poverty; Culture; Social norms; Law enforcement; Ethiopia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A11 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Role of Economics; Role of Economists
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • K38 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Human Rights Law; Gender Law; Animal Rights Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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