On the Formation of Family Structures.

Hitherto, models of family economics focus on explaining the organization of monogamous and polygynous family patterns. A third existing marriage pattern, polyandrous marriages, has been neglected. This paper shows that – in contrast to the common view – a polyandrous marriage may be individually rational. I consider a game theoretic model of a subsistence economy whose members maximize their personal reproductive success. In this model, all three family formations can appear as equilibrium solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]