We estimate Eq. (1) by replacing Dij (Bij) with three different sets of dowry and bride price paid to others (i.e., \( \overlinej>> \) and \( \overlinej>> \) , \( \overline> \) and \( \overline> \) , or the community-based dowry and bride price), and three sets of reduced-form estimation results are presented in Table 4. Each panel presents estimation results of a reduced-form regression with a different set of dowry and bride price paid to others. To be comparable with Panel A, the OLS estimation results with women who have at least one brother and one sister are presented in Appendix Table 8. The reduced-form estimation results support the main OLS estimation results shown in Table 2. That is, women enjoy higher status in the ily that tends to exchange higher dowries and when they come from a higher-dowry village, whereas a larger bride price is negatively associated with these same traits. Here, the amount of bride price paid to the wife’s sisters by their in-laws is significantly negatively associated with the wife’s autonomy. The third set, i.e., the community-based dowry and bride price, does not show any significant association with women’s status. This is likely because relatively weaker association between the community-based dowry (bride price) and the personal dowry (bride price) that the bride receives from her parents (in-laws) than other two sets. The estimates for other coefficients are not inconsistent with those shown in Table 2 and are available upon request.
Table 4 Organization anywhere between dowry/fiance price (reduced by the from inside the-regulations out-of sisters, other people about community and you can community) and you will wife’s reputation on marital household (OLS)
cuatro.step three Talk and you may robustness checks
Inside the determining the brand new women’s status regarding the relationship house, the effect of your own online dowry (dowry minus bride-to-be rates) get number. Remember that the amount of deferred mehr is included individually out of the net dowry as former is not paid back except if separation and divorce takes place and should not be considered assets brought to your wedding. The outcome advise that the brand new possessions produced into ount) increase their decision-to make strength and you may freedom. These types of self-confident connectivity commonly alarming since the the brand new associations off bride-to-be speed reduced in the course of matrimony focus on restrict so you’re able to the ones from dowry in the primary estimations.
Possibly, an elevated age otherwise knowledge variation you are going to deteriorate the wife’s reputation from the relationship house. Including many years variation together with knowledge huge difference (substitution the husband’s age and you can degree) doesn’t affect the fundamental effects, additionally the coefficients of these variables commonly high (Appendix Table nine, Panel B).
The newest estimate procedure is repeated because of the replacement dowry and you will bride to be rate that have web dowry (Appendix Desk nine, Committee A beneficial)
That you are going to argue that what amount of age given that marriage try important since the result out of dowry (or fiance speed) could well be better soon after marriage. Along with decades since ount of dowry (replacement female’s age within relationship) magnifies the base effect of dowry inside the ladies’ flexibility however, minimizes its magnitude plus the benefits level from inside the ladies decision making (Appendix Dining table 9, Panel C). Meaning you to a much bigger dowry increases the wife’s freedom inside the new marital house once wedding; although not, new connection is not significantly influenced by brand new passing of decades since the marriage.
Zero way of measuring gender ideology is roofed in the primary estimate due to endogeneity concerns. One you are going to believe inclusion of such tips may undermine the fresh new relationship ranging from dowry and you can ladies status throughout the marital house. Although we do not deny the chance that choices and ideological thinking regarding gender relations are not built-in and alter across the marital lifetime, the fresh new estimate processes was repeated because of the in addition to a couple steps getting son preference: the original varying means that if the wife’s most readily useful number of sons is actually higher than that of daughters while the 2nd means one if the spouse desires offer advanced schooling to help you sons rather than in order to daughters. Controlling having gender ideology does not drastically change the main estimation efficiency (Appendix Table 9, Panel D). Remarkably, ladies decision making try undoubtedly of the young buck taste. not, it’s negatively with the taste to possess bringing advanced schooling so you’re able to sons as compared with daughters. A possible interpretation is that extremely educated female is generally against gender inequality when you look at the education and become significantly more energized on the relationship home but prefer which have significantly more sons than simply daughters. It looks in line with certain present education exhibiting you to definitely son taste is far more common certainly extremely educated feminine in the place of uneducated feminine from inside the Southern China (Das Gupta 1987; Muhuri and you will Preston 1991).