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Title: Mexican-American Married and Cohabiting Couples and Their Patterns of Dual Earning

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2013

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Abstract: The prevalence and characteristics associated with dual earning may differ for Mexican-American couples compared to white couples in the U.S., partly because of the majority immigrant share of Mexican Americans. Cohabiting and Mexican-interracial couples are a substantial share of Mexican-American couples, a share which is more likely to diverge from a husband sole-earning pattern. Using the 2008-2012 Current Population Survey, we examine whether the observed differences between Mexican groups and white couples, both married and cohabiting, are due to racial-ethnic differences or to nativity composition. Married Mexican-American couples are no less likely to be dual earning than white couples after controlling for nativity, whereas cohabiting Mexican-American couples are not significantly different from white couples in their prevalence of dual earning, regardless of nativity. Mexican couples are also less likely to be female sole earning than white couples, though the gap narrows after controlling for nativity. These differences are largely explained by an assimilation pattern by which couples with two U.S.-born spouses are the most likely to be dual earning. Though educational attainment and the presence of young children are important determinants for all couples, these factors are significantly different in their impact on earnings decisions between Mexican-American and white couples.

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Authors: Reeder, Lori; Park, Julie

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Publication Number: 022

Institution: Maryland Population Research Center

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Publisher Location: Maryland

Data Collections: IPUMS CPS

Topics: Family and Marriage, Race and Ethnicity

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