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Title: Dissimilar Occupations and Martial Stability

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2014

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Abstract: We show that information revealed by the occupation choices of spouses predicts martial dissolution. Using a novel measure of occupational distance constructed from the O*Net Content Model, we find that spouses more closely matched in terms of their occupations' requisite knowledge are more likely to divorce. This supports the hypothesis that gains from division of labor within a household can render a marriage more durable. On the other hand, spouses that are dissimilar in terms of their occupations' activities are more likely to divorce. This suggests that each spouse brings an inclination toward certain activities to the marriage that reflects compatible preferences for joint consumption of household public goods.

Url: http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~bvankamm/Files/Spousal Matching Paper 04112014.pdf

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Authors: Van Kammen, Ben; Adams, Scott

Publisher: Purdue University

Data Collections: IPUMS CPS

Topics: Family and Marriage, Labor Force and Occupational Structure

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