Polygyny and Drought Resilience in Village Economies: Evidence from Rural Mali

Abstract Rural communities in the Sahel, where livelihoods rely heavily on rainfed agriculture, face recurrent droughts that threaten food security and economic stability. This study examines how drought impacts crop yields across communities with varying levels of polygyny. Using panel data, census records, and meteorological information from rural Mali, this study finds that droughts significantly reduce crop yields in communities with no polygyny, whereas those with higher polygyny prevalence experience a mitigated impact. Our analysis suggests that highly polygynous communities benefit from geographically dispersed kinship networks, which provide crucial support during droughts. These networks facilitate resource sharing, sustaining both agricultural production and off-farm activities, thereby buffering the adverse effects of drought. These findings underscore the need to integrate cultural practices into policy efforts aimed at strengthening risk-management mechanisms in drought-prone regions. Neglecting such factors may inadvertently reinforce the persistence of informal coping strategies.