Fraternal polyandry and fertility in a high Himalayan valley in Northwest Nepal

The manner in which cultural factors affect fertility has become an important area of anthropological concern. In this article, it will be shown that while fraternal polyandry does not affect individual fertility it does have a significant depressing effect on aggregate fertility and functions, unperceived and unintended, as an important mechanism for reducing population growth.This work was supported by a fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies.