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Title: The Marriage Age U-Shape

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2019

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Abstract: In this paper, I address the U-shaped dynamics (a decrease followed by an increase) in the age at first marriage during the twentieth century. First, I show that the U-shaped dynamics have been steeper in Western that in other countries. Second, I find that these dynamics in Western Europe are strongly related to the post-WWII economic development. By contrast, in the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries age of marriage was much less correlated across Western countries. I propose a simple model where age of marriage is a function of search frictions and a structural change of the economy. Both factors put together generate U-shaped dynamics as a result of an industrial boom that mimics the post-WWII economic development, especially in Western countries.

Url: http://ftp.iza.org/dp12356.pdf

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Authors: Jelnov, Pavel

Series Title: IZA Discussion Paper Series

Publication Number: 12356

Institution: IZA – Institute of Labor Economics

Pages:

Publisher Location: Bonn, Germany

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

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

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