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Divorce and Remarriage in Rural Malawi

Author

Listed:
  • Georges Reniers

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

Abstract

The demographic study of nuptiality in African countries is not very developed and often of secondary interest in a discussion of the proximate determinants of fertility. This paper uses unusual marriage history data to examine divorce and remarriage in rural Malawi. Life table probabilities of divorce range from 40 to 65 percent and are among the highest on the continent. An investigation into the determinants of marital instability using proportional hazards models confirms the importance of kinship systems and female empowerment, but the mechanism underlying the high divorce rates in Malawi seems to be more complicated than that. This is, for example, illustrated in the effect of the polygyny variables. Marriage, divorce, and remarriage are further considered as empowering strategies that women deploy throughout their lives.

Suggested Citation

  • Georges Reniers, 2003. "Divorce and Remarriage in Rural Malawi," Demographic Research Special Collections, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 1(6), pages 175-206.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:drspec:v:1:y:2003:i:6
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2003.S1.6
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Teresa Martin & Larry Bumpass, 1989. "Recent trends in marital disruption," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 26(1), pages 37-51, February.
    2. repec:cai:popine:popu_p1995_50n1_0093 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Harold Alderman & Hans-Peter Kohler & Jere Behrman & Susan Watkins & John A. Maluccio, 2001. "Attrition in Longitudinal Household Survey Data," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 5(4), pages 79-124.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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