The Economics of Hypergamy
Link to article:
Authors:
Almås, Invild, Andreas Kotsadam, Espen R. Moen, Knut Røed
Year:
2019
Reference:
Andre skrifter
IZA Disussion paper no. 12185
Summary
Partner selection is a vital feature of human behavior with important consequences for individuals, families, and society. Hypergamy occurs when a husband’s earning capacity systematically exceeds that of his wife. We provide a theoretical framework that rationalizes hypergamy even in the absence of gender differences in the distribution of earnings capacity. Using parental earnings rank, a predetermined measure of earnings capacity that solves the simultaneity problem of matching affecting earnings outcomes, we show that hypergamy is an important feature of Norwegian mating patterns. A vignette experiment identifies gender differences in preferences that can explain the observed patterns.
JEL:
J12, D10, J22
Keywords:
marriage, gender identity, labor supply, household specialization
Project:
Oppdragsgiver: Norges ForskningsrådOppdragsgivers prosjektnr.: 236992
Frisch prosjekt: 1178 - Egalitarianism under pressure? New perspectives on inequality and social cohesion