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Death beyond the means: Funeral overspending and its government regulation around the world

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  • Turkhan Sadigov

Abstract

While death-related household overspending is increasingly an international phenomenon with far-reaching implications, the government responses to it vary greatly throughout the world. This article offers a model of death-related overspending, including both population and governments. The analysis of data from 118 countries empirically supports the main research argument—the decline of traditional hierarchies and simultaneous ascendance of newly-affluent urbanite class, to the backdrop of collectivist society pervaded by superstitions, increase household incentives to spend on death beyond their means. State policy response depends on both the government’s ability to control vested interests and the financial cost of an average funeral.

Suggested Citation

  • Turkhan Sadigov, 2021. "Death beyond the means: Funeral overspending and its government regulation around the world," Rationality and Society, , vol. 33(3), pages 363-398, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:33:y:2021:i:3:p:363-398
    DOI: 10.1177/1043463121990015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anne Case & Anu Garrib & Alicia Menendez & Analia Olgiati, 2013. "Paying the Piper: The High Cost of Funerals in South Africa," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 62(1), pages 1-20.
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    5. Sokolov, Boris, 2018. "The Index of Emancipative Values: Measurement Model Misspecifications," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 112(2), pages 395-408, May.
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    7. Carlton Basmajian & Christopher Coutts, 2010. "Planning for the Disposal of the Dead," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 76(3), pages 305-317.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yan‐Jie Yang & Dhian Wahyuni & Qian Long Kweh & Robin Chen, 2026. "Faith‐Based Insights: Exploring the Impact of Islamic Values on ESG Performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(2), pages 2928-2948, March.

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