Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
Traditional family norms often have persistent effects on household decisions. We question whether kinship ancestries of postmarital residence still affect household consumption sharing. We estimate a model of resource allocation using expenditure surveys for Ghana and Malawi, two countries in which patrilocal and matrilocal traditions coexist. Ancestral patrilocality coincides with a 10% lower resource share for women, contributing to a higher prevalence of poverty among women. Women’s resource shares increase with age, a pattern more pronounced for matrilocal groups. These results indicate how a combination of cultural and demographic factors may be used to improve policies targeted at poor individuals.