From a cross-cultural study, Jack Goody learned that bridewealth occurs more frequently in horticultural societies, whereas the dowry system is most frequently found in agricultural states. He further hypothesized that one function of the dowry system was to:

A) consolidate property in the hands of elite groups, thus increasing their wealth and status

B) counteract the practice of bridewealth which was non-adaptive in an agricul¬tural state because it allowed certain families to accumulate too much wealth by selling their daughters to the highest bidder

C) spread wealth out over a larger area so that everyone in the society had about the same level of affluence

D) create an egalitarian society.