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The Economics of Hypergamy

Link to article:

[PDF]

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 Forskningsråd
Oppdragsgivers prosjektnr.: 236992
Frisch prosjekt: 1178 - Egalitarianism under pressure? New perspectives on inequality and social cohesion