The Influence of Economic Factors on First Marriage in Historical Europe and Asia
The Influence of Economic Factors on First Marriage in Historical Europe and Asia
This chapter examines the role of economic factors in first marriage in seven locations in pre-industrial Europe and Asia using a two-generation theory, which also takes socioeconomic class into account. In these settings, the household provided a major welfare function for its members. Access to land was of considerable importance, but so was the prevalent family system – whether a married couple formed a new household or joined an existing one. Whether a new couple only set up a consumption unit or whether they started a production unit was of importance as well. There were however, gender dimensions to this pattern. Likewise, there were gender dimensions when it comes to the competition between siblings, more so among the well-off groups. Obviously, differences in family systems, dowry, and bride price played an important role. Overall parental wealth was more important than adolescent savings in these societies.
Keywords: first marriage, Asia, Europe, pre-industrial regime, two-generation model, socio-economic patterns, gender differences, longitudinal individual level data, vulnerability, short-term economic stress
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