Full Citation

Title: Who Marries Differently-Aged Spouses? Ability, Education, Occupation, Earnings, and Appearance

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2014

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI:

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: In direct contrast to conventional wisdom and most economic models of marital age gaps, we present robust evidence that men and women who are married to differently-aged spouses are negatively selected. Empirical results show lower cognitive ability, lower educational attainment, lower occupational wages, lower earnings, and less attractive appearance among those married to a differently-aged spouse. These results, obtained using samples of first marriages and controlling for age of marriage, are consistent with a model in which individuals with more schooling and more upwardly-mobile occupations interact more heavily with similarly-aged peers and are ultimately more likely to marry similarly-aged spouses.

Url: https://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/REST_a_00377

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Mansour, Hani; McKinnish, Terra

Periodical (Full): The Review of Economics and Statistics

Issue: 3

Volume: 96

Pages: 577-580

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

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

Countries: