Out Here in the Fields

In the midst of researching the economic downsides of bride prices, we came across this recent study from Tanzania, where money always changes hands before a young couple's nuptials. As noted in the chart above, girls who toil in the fields attract far greater bride prices than peers who stick close to home:

Using an instrumental variables strategy, we show that child labor in agricultural activities is significantly associated with better outcomes in terms of family wealth, particularly for...