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maximization, marriage and residence among the So 1
Author(s) -
LAUGHLIN CHARLES D.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
american ethnologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.875
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1548-1425
pISSN - 0094-0496
DOI - 10.1525/ae.1974.1.1.02a00070
Subject(s) - residence , maximization , field (mathematics) , utility maximization , economics , sociology , microeconomics , positive economics , mathematical economics , demographic economics , mathematics , pure mathematics
In this article, the economic ramifications of brideprice exchange and postnuptial residence are examined for the So of northeastern Uganda. Aspects of ecology and social organization are presented and a complete description of So marriage practices is offered. A number of specific deductive hypotheses relating economic deprivation to economizing behavior are statistically tested. Allocation of resources to brideprice is seen as only one alternative use of livestock. As resources become more scarce, the So become more concerned with proximal payoffs and thus shift the direction of allocation. Choice of residence is shown to be an important locus of maximization decisioning. Finally, two general deductive hypotheses, suggested by the So data, are generated from maximization theory and offered for testing in other field situations.