TY - JOUR
T1 - Using the law to change the custom
AU - Aldashev, Gani
AU - Chaara, Imane
AU - Platteau, Jean Philippe
AU - Wahhaj, Zaki
PY - 2012/3
Y1 - 2012/3
N2 - The custom often acts as a powerful hindrance to equity-increasing changes. In this paper, we present a simple model of legal dualism in which a progressive legal reform can, under certain conditions, shift the conflicting custom in the direction intended by the legislator. Formal law then acts as an outside anchor that exerts a 'magnet effect' on the custom. We also characterize the conditions under which a moderate reform performs better than a radical one in improving the welfare of the disadvantaged sections of the population. We illustrate our insights using examples on inheritance, marriage, and divorce in Sub-Saharan Africa and India.
AB - The custom often acts as a powerful hindrance to equity-increasing changes. In this paper, we present a simple model of legal dualism in which a progressive legal reform can, under certain conditions, shift the conflicting custom in the direction intended by the legislator. Formal law then acts as an outside anchor that exerts a 'magnet effect' on the custom. We also characterize the conditions under which a moderate reform performs better than a radical one in improving the welfare of the disadvantaged sections of the population. We illustrate our insights using examples on inheritance, marriage, and divorce in Sub-Saharan Africa and India.
KW - Custom
KW - Legal reform
KW - Statutory law
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=82455192238&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2011.03.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2011.03.001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:82455192238
SN - 0304-3878
VL - 97
SP - 182
EP - 200
JO - JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
JF - JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
IS - 2
ER -