The Economics of Hypergamy

Ingvild Almås (), Andreas Kotsadam, Espen Moen () and Knut Røed ()
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Ingvild Almås: IIES, Stockholm University

No 12185, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: marriage; gender identity; labor supply; household specialization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D10 J12 J22 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2019-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-lab
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Published - published in: Journal of Human Resources, 2023, 58 (1), 260-281

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Related works:
Journal Article: The Economics of Hypergamy (2023)
Working Paper: The Economics of Hypergamy (2019)
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