Sociability and the Timing of First Marriage

Heizler (Cohen), Odelia (), Nira Yacouel () and Ayal Kimhi
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Heizler (Cohen), Odelia: Academic College of Tel-Aviv Yaffo
Nira Yacouel: Ashkelon College

No 6607, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper investigates, both theoretically and empirically, the effect of sociability on the age of marriage. Theoretically, a more sociable individual has higher chances of finding a suitable partner for marriage early in life, and hence is expected to marry earlier than an otherwise similar unsociable individual. On the other hand, a more sociable individual can afford to be more selective in choosing a mate and therefore will tend to postpone marriage until the most suitable partner is found. Using a survival model applied to Israeli data, we show that the first effect is dominant for relatively less sociable individuals, whereas the second effect is dominant for relatively more sociable individuals. Hence, people with intermediate levels of sociability will tend to marry earlier. In an era of increasing individualism and decreasing sociability, these results have important implications for marriage rates, fertility, housing markets and financial markets.

Keywords: social networks; age of marriage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D10 J12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 36 pages
Date: 2012-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem
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Working Paper: Sociability and the timing of first marriage (2012)
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