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State Fragility and Structural Gender Inequality in Family Law: An Empirical Investigation

Author

Listed:
  • Donna Lee Bowen

    (Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University, 794 Kimball Tower, Provo, UT 84602, USA)

  • Valerie M. Hudson

    (The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, 4220 TAMU, 1079 Allen Building, College Station, TX 77843, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Perpetua Lynne Nielsen

    (Department of Statistics, Brigham Young University, 223B TMCB, Provo, UT 84602, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

In this paper we examine the linkage of male-dominant family law systems and levels of nation-state security and stability. We expect such societies to be predisposed to parasitical rent-seeking and inefficiency, combined with coercive conflict resolution, resulting in higher levels of violence within the society. We demonstrate empirically that states with inequitable family law also exhibit higher levels of state fragility. Using standard indicators of state stability and security, our empirical results show that the ability to predict levels of state stability and security is significantly enhanced by examining a measure of Inequity in Family Law in addition to more conventional explanatory variables such as literacy rate, level of democracy, and civilizational influence.

Suggested Citation

  • Donna Lee Bowen & Valerie M. Hudson & Perpetua Lynne Nielsen, 2015. "State Fragility and Structural Gender Inequality in Family Law: An Empirical Investigation," Laws, MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlawss:v:4:y:2015:i:4:p:654-672:d:56916
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hudson, Valerie M. & Bowen, Donna Lee & Nielsen, Perpetua Lynne, 2015. "Clan Governance and State Stability: The Relationship between Female Subordination and Political Order," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 109(3), pages 535-555, August.
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