Why does Marriage Improve the Well-Being of Some and Diminish that of others? A Gender Analysis in Togo

Abstract

Pikabe Doni, Adanmadogbe Jules Edorh, Agbessi Augustin Doto And Ciriaque Nutsugan

Marriage is considered in the literature as a means of pooling risks and improving the well-being of couples. Thus, this article aims to analyze the relationship between marriage and the well-being of couples in Togo. To do so, we apply the ordinary least squares (OLS) method. Using data from the Enquête Harmonisée sur les Conditions de Vie des Ménages (EHCVM) Togo 2018. We arrive at the results that, marriage positively affects the well-being of married women under monogamy and polygamy, but the well-being of women in common-law unions decreases. However, our results show that marriage negatively affects the well-being of married men in Togo, regardless of their marital status. Furthermore, we find that marriage is a decreasing function of education level in Togo, but that marriage contributes to improved household well-being in the Togolese context. Our results suggest that the provision of social assistance, such as affordable healthcare or employment assistance programs, could help improve the well-being of married men. Further policy implications are proposed in the light of our results.

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