Marriage, networks, and jobs in third world cities

This paper reports on recent research that explores the role of the marriage institution in facilitating economic activity in two urban labor markets: Kisumu, Kenya and Bombay, India. Kin and affine networks, organized around the marriage institution, are shown to improve the individual's labor market outcomes, while at the same time increasing his social obligations, in Kisumu. Caste-based networks, also kept in place by the marriage institution, are shown to shape career choices in Bombay. Although the marriage institution may have demonstrated a significant degree of flexibility in transplanting traditional (rural) networks to the city, we argue that these networks will ultimately break down in the face of economic globalization.