  Simple structures of MnX binary compounds, namely hexagonal NiAs and
zincblende, are studied as a function of the anion (X = Sb, As, P) by means of
the all-electron FLAPW method within local spin density and generalized
gradient approximations. An accurate analysis of the structural, electronic and
magnetic properties reveals that the cubic structure greatly favours the
magnetic alignment in these compounds leading to high magnetic moments and
nearly half-metallic behaviour for MnSb and MnAs. The effect of the anion
chemical species is related to both its size and the possible hybridization
with the Mn $d$ states; both contributions are seen to hinder the magnitude of
the magnetic moment for small and light anions. Our results are in very good
agreement with experiment - where available - and show that the generalized
gradient approximation is essential to correctly recover both the equilibrium
volume and magnetic moment.
