As part of the Brown Bag Lunch series, the International Economics Department at the Graduate Institute is pleased to invite you to a public talk given by Maria Kamran, PhD Researcher in International Economics.

A Touch of Violence - Welfare Outcomes under Bride Exchange, Child Marriage and Household Preferences

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of cultural traditions on spousal behaviour. It examines the case of Pakistani traditions of exchange marriage custom- Watta Satta and child marriage influence on ex-post marital outcome of spousal abuse. Results find that spousal abuse is a function of a patriarchal culture where male characteristics like secondary education and preferences such as fertility perception reduces the incidence of domestic abuse. The paper argues that compared to female empowerment schemes that provide women protection and independence, men receiving secondary education along with altered perceptions about fertility can reduce the incidence of marital abuse.