Comments Welcome AN ALMOST EXACT OVERLAPPING GENERATIONS MODEL OF THE RENDILLE OF NORTHERN KENYA*

This paper makes four contributions to the applied use of overlapping generations (OLG) models. First, it models the social rules of a particular age-group society, the Rendille tribe of Northern Kenya, and show that the demographic rules imply an almost structurally exact standard OLG model. Second, despite heterogeneity in the timing of marriage and birthing, the model can be calibrated using standard aggregate demographic data. Third, the calibrated model not only captures population dynamics but also tracks lineages. Fourth, the model permits an analysis of institutions that reveals the intergenerational conflicts in supporting and changing the social rules