Trends in assortative mating and offspring outcomes
Link to article:
Authors:
Bratsberg, Bernt, Simen Markussen, Oddbjørn Raaum, Knut Røed, Ole Røgeberg,
Year:
2023
Reference:
Vol 133(651), 928-950Summary
We study assortative mating of Norwegian parents over five decades and its consequences for offspring outcomes. Parents are characterized by the earnings decile of their parents (the offspring's grandparents) as an indicator of social class. While assortative mating has remained stable across decades, parenthood has become more skewed toward the higher classes. Examining the influence on offspring education and employment, we find that the marginal effect of one parent's class is smaller the higher is the class of the other. Overall, mating trends have contributed to slight improvements in average education and employment and reduced inequality in the offspring generation.
JEL:
J12; J24; J62; D63
Keywords:
assortative mating, homogamy, intergenerational mobility, inequality
Project:
Oppdragsgiver: Norges ForskningsrådOppdragsgivers prosjektnr.: 236992
Frisch prosjekt: 1178 - Egalitarianism under pressure? New perspectives on inequality and social cohesion
Oppdragsgiver: Norges Forskninsgråd
Oppdragsgivers prosjektnr.: 280350/GE
Frisch prosjekt: 1191 - The decline in employment and the rise of its social gradient
Oppdragsgiver: Forskningsrådet
Oppdragsgivers prosjektnr.: 300917
Frisch prosjekt: 1676 - Intergenerational Mobility and Labor Market Inclusion
