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Intra-household efficiency in extended family households: evidence from Rural India

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posted on 2023-06-09, 22:04 authored by Sweta Gupta, Christopher Ksoll, Annemie MaertensAnnemie Maertens
The extended family household, in which multiple generations or married siblings of a family live together, is common in developing countries. We conducted a series of public goods experiments in such households in five villages in rural North India to shed light on decision-making efficiency within this household structure. In this experiment, we offered household members the choice to receive either a lower amount over which they have private control or a higher payout that becomes a common resource. We measure efficiency as the degree to which individuals are willing to forego personal rewards for larger, collective rewards. We find that relationships within extended households are not equally efficient, with the relationship between the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law particularly problematic. Supplementary survey and qualitative evidence points to the role of decision-making power, with young, married women lacking the power to assert their preferences in extended households and resorting to actions that reduce the overall efficiency of the household.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Journal of Development Studies

ISSN

0022-0388

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Volume

57

Page range

1172-1197

Department affiliated with

  • Economics Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2020-11-09

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2022-07-12

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2020-11-06

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