Full Citation

Title: LOWERING STANDARDS TO WED? SPOUSE QUALITY, MARRIAGE, AND LABOR MARKET RESPONSES TO THE GENDER WAGE GAP

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2021

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_00919

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of the female-to-male wage ratio, "relative wage," on women's spouse quality, marriage, and labor supply over three decades. Exploiting task-based demand shifts as a shock to relative pay, I find that a higher relative wage (a) increases the quality of women's mates, as measured by higher spousal education; (b) reduces marriage without substitution to cohabitation; and (c) raises women's hours of work. These effects are consistent with a model in which a higher relative wage increases the minimum nonpecuniary benefits ("quality") women require from a spouse and therefore reduce marriage among low-quality husbands.

Url: https://doi.org/10.1162/rest_a_00919

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Authors: Shenhav, Na'ama

Periodical (Full): Review of Economics and Statistics

Issue: 2

Volume: 103

Pages: 265-279

Data Collections: IPUMS USA, IPUMS CPS

Topics: Family and Marriage, Gender, Labor Force and Occupational Structure

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