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The relationship between sex ratios and marriage rates in South Africa

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  • Dorrit Posel
  • Daniela Casale

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between alternative definitions of sex ratios and marriage outcomes among African and white women in South Africa. In contrast to marriages among whites, African marriages in South Africa traditionally have involved the payment of bridewealth (or ilobolo ) by a husband to the prospective wife's family. Using matched data from the 2001 Population Census and the South African Labour Force Surveys, we find that among Africans, both the quantity and quality of unmarried men relative to women in local marriage markets are significant predictors of marriage. However, economic-based measures of marriageability have a larger effect on marriage outcomes than simple sex ratios. These findings are consistent with the argument that bridewealth payments act as a financial constraint to marriage among African couples, raising the marriageability criteria of men. In contrast, we find mostly insignificant results for the relationship between sex ratios and marriage outcomes among white women.

Suggested Citation

  • Dorrit Posel & Daniela Casale, 2013. "The relationship between sex ratios and marriage rates in South Africa," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(5), pages 663-676, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:45:y:2013:i:5:p:663-676
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2011.610749
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fairlie, Robert W., 2003. "An Extension of the Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition Technique to Logit and Probit Models," Center Discussion Papers 28425, Yale University, Economic Growth Center.
    2. Siv Gustafsson & Seble Y. Worku, 2006. "Marriage Markets and Single Motherhood in South Africa," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 06-102/3, Tinbergen Institute.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dieter von Fintel & Eldridge Moses, 2017. "Migration and gender in South Africa: following bright lights and the fortunes of others?," Working Papers 09/2017, Stellenbosch University, Department of Economics, revised 2018.
    2. Dinah Abdel Fattah, 2017. "Three essays on young married women in Egypt," Economics PhD Theses 0217, Department of Economics, University of Sussex Business School.

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