Table 3.

Predictions of the Law and Economics and Law and Society Paradigms

	Law and Economics	Law and Society
Knowledge of the law	People have knowledge of the law banning FGC.	People may be unaware or only vaguely familiar with the legal provision banning FGC.
Enforceability	The law is seen as legitimate and enforceable.	People have limited concerns about enforceability because of limited familiarity with the legal provision.
Dispute Resolution	The formal legal system is employed.	Local resolution efforts are employed.
Factors motivating abandonment of FGC	In weighing the costs and benefits of the practice, the possibility of legal sanctions factors into the equation in a meaningful manner; for some, the potential additional pecuniary costs motivate the decision to abandon FGC.	Without other factors changing social norms and motivating change in the practice of FGC, laws banning FGC do not motivate abandonment of the practice, and may drive the practice underground or incite reactance.

FGC, female genital cutting; FGM, female genital mutilation.