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Socio-Economic Determinants of Child Marriage: Evidence from the Iranian Provinces

Author

Listed:
  • Mozhgan Asna-ashary
  • Mohammad Reza Farzanegan
  • Mehdi Feizi
  • Hassan F. Gholipour

Abstract

We study the socio-economic determinants of child (girls below age of 19 years) marriage using a panel data of thirty Iranian provinces from 2007 to 2015. Our panel fixed effects and generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations show that the level of income per capita (with negative effect), inflation and income inequality (both with positive effect) are the significant determinants of child marriage. Our results which control for province fixed effects (e.g. local cultural norms or geographical conditions) do not show a significant effect of religiosity captured by a household’s spending on religious products and services. To reduce child marriage, which has long-run negative effects on the development of children, policymakers need to focus on economic issues and distribution of income, thus reducing the economic incentives or necessities of families to accept the practice of child marriage. Child marriage is more rooted in economic deprivation than in religiosity of households.

Suggested Citation

  • Mozhgan Asna-ashary & Mohammad Reza Farzanegan & Mehdi Feizi & Hassan F. Gholipour, 2020. "Socio-Economic Determinants of Child Marriage: Evidence from the Iranian Provinces," CESifo Working Paper Series 8073, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_8073
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    Cited by:

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    2. Iklasiah Dalimoenthe & Herlinawati & Abdul Kadir Ahmad & Evy Clara & Shandra Widiyanti & Iskandar Agung, 2023. "Gender-Based Problems in Rural Communities: A Case Study," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 12, January.
    3. Mohammad Reza Farzanegan, 2023. "Years of life lost to revolution and war in Iran," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(4), pages 2061-2103, November.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • P46 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Other Economic Systems - - - Consumer Economics; Health; Education and Training; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty

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