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Why Dowry Deaths Have Risen in India?

Author

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  • Geetika Dang
  • Vani S. Kulkarni
  • Raghav Gaiha

Abstract

The present study builds on the extant literature on dowry deaths in India. We analyse the extent of rise of and reasons underlying dowry deaths between 2001-2016, using a nation-wide panel survey, supplemented by another analysis that focuses on a panel of two cross-sections for 2001 and 2011. A key hypothesis to explain the rise in dowry deaths is the marriage squeeze causing dowry inflation and deaths. Our analysis offers a robust confirmation, based on alternative measures of marriage squeeze. Other explanatory factors include state affluence, education of women, nature of state governance, convictions against dowry deaths, and an important Supreme Court judgment in 2010 that made it compulsory to establish prior harassment of a victim by the male spouse and his relatives arising from dowry. Glaring inefficiencies of the police and judiciary systems in registering dowry deaths and punishing the perpetrators are highlighted. Anti-dowry legislation is not to be judged by its intent but by its implementation. Besides, aggressive masculinity can’t be curbed without addressing powerful influences of gender norms and systems of inequality. In brief, the challenges of curbing the growing menace of dowry deaths are many but effective solutions are few.

Suggested Citation

  • Geetika Dang & Vani S. Kulkarni & Raghav Gaiha, 2018. "Why Dowry Deaths Have Risen in India?," ASARC Working Papers 2018-03, The Australian National University, Australia South Asia Research Centre.
    • Handle: RePEc:pas:asarcc:2018-03
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    File URL: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/acde/asarc/pdf/papers/2018/WP2018-03.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Tanusree Mishra & Tanmoyee Banerjee (Chatterjee), 2020. "Child marriage: some facts from selected Indian states," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 40(3), pages 2093-2110.
    3. G. Vicente & T. Goicoa & P. Fernandez‐Rasines & M. D. Ugarte, 2020. "Crime against women in India: unveiling spatial patterns and temporal trends of dowry deaths in the districts of Uttar Pradesh," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 183(2), pages 655-679, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dowry deaths; marriage squeeze; affluence; anti-dowry legislation; education; bestial masculinity; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • H89 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Other

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