Social status and egalitarianism in non-lineage-based, agrarian communities in sub-Saharan Africa: An analysis of funeral attendance
This paper explores the role of social status in relationships between richer and poorer households in non-lineage-based, agrarian communities by analysing who goes to whose funerals in six resettled Zimbabwean villages. Funerals allow social status to be observed because non-attendance is a sign of disrespect. We find that the richer a household hosting a funeral, the less likely heads of neighbouring households were to attend. This is consistent with the existence of an egalitarian norm that was being violated, to some degree, by the richer households. This norm is stronger among kin but also holds for non-kin. An analysis of assistance provision offers no evidence that some richer households complied with the norm and eschewed punishment. While the egalitarian norm appears weak (punishment for norm violation was exerted but compliance did not follow), patron-client relationships appear not to have emerged in its place.
Year of publication: |
2023
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Authors: | Barr, Abigail ; Stein, Mattea |
Publisher: |
Nottingham : The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT) |
Subject: | Social status | Egalitarian norms | Patronage | Sub-Saharan Africa | Funeral attendance |
Saved in:
freely available
Series: | CREDIT Research Paper ; 23/04 |
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Type of publication: | Book / Working Paper |
Type of publication (narrower categories): | Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Other identifiers: | 1853169366 [GVK] hdl:10419/284121 [Handle] |
Classification: | O15 - Human Resources; Income Distribution; Migration ; O17 - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements ; Z19 - Cultural Economics. Other ; I39 - Welfare and Poverty. Other |
Source: |
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10014480711