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Kevin Kamto Sonke, a PhD candidate in public policy and James B. Duke Fellow, is investigating how civil registration systems and age-at-marriage laws shape women’s educational, marital and fertility outcomes. In this Q&A, he discusses his interest in examining both the benefits and trade-offs of government intervention, as well as his research on how regulations can interfere with customary norms and the law.
Five Questions with Kevin
Why did you choose Sanford’s PhD program?
I was drawn to the program's interdisciplinary approach and rigorous methodology. While students train in various fields, the PhD program mandates that they meet a fundamental set of common methodological standards required across all social sciences.
Why are you pursuing a PhD in public policy?
I am both a proponent and a skeptic when it comes to government intervention. I have learned that regulations come with both costs and benefits. I am passionate about analyzing how individuals, families, and other private entities internalize these trade-offs.
What are your current research interests?
My current research interests include labor, social protection, and family policy. I investigate how civil registration and age-at-marriage laws influence women's marital, fertility, and educational outcomes. Specifically, I examine the impact of religious exemptions in child marriage bans on family compliance with these regulations. My findings indicate that, in response to these laws, older girls tend to delay marriage more than their younger counterparts, who are more likely to enter into informal unions.
I chose these areas of focus because they illustrate how regulations can interfere with customary norms and the law. While age-at-marriage laws may help states achieve economic development goals by improving education, health, and labor market participation for women, these policies often conflict with deeply rooted norms and customary law, which can decrease compliance.
What are the potential impacts of your research?
My research has significant implications for the implementation of civil registration and age-at-marriage laws. These regulations require states to effectively monitor an individual’s age and the timing of union formation. However, many countries struggle to perform such monitoring. In contexts where civil, customary, and religious forms of marriage are all legally recognized, it becomes even more challenging for the state to maintain oversight. Therefore, in addition to banning child marriages, states may need to enhance their oversight of all alternative forms of marriage.
What are your post-Duke PhD career aspirations?
I aspire to work for a research institution, government or international organization, designing and analyzing the effects of regulations targeting at-risk and marginalized groups.