Is Marriage for White People? Incarceration, Unemployment, and the Racial Marriage Divide

Elizabeth M. Caucutt, Nezih Guner and Christopher Rauh

Janeway Institute Working Papers from Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge

Abstract: The difference in marriage rates between black and white Americans is striking. Wilson (1987) suggests that a skewed sex ratio and higher rates of incarceration and unemployment are responsible for lower marriage rates among the black population. In this paper, we take a dynamic look at the Wilson Hypothesis. Incarceration rates and labor market prospects of black men make them riskier spouses than white men. We develop an equilibrium search model of marriage, divorce, and labor supply in which transitions between employment, unemployment, and prison differ by race, education, and gender. The model also allows for racial differences in how individuals value marriage and divorce. We estimate the model and investigate how much of the racial divide in marriage is due to the Wilson Hypothesis and how much is due to differences in preferences for marriage. We find that the Wilson Hypothesis accounts for more than three quarters of the model's racial-marriage gap. This suggests policies that improve employment opportunities and/or reduce incarceration for black men could shrink the racial-marriage gap.

Keywords: Marriage; Race; Incarceration; Inequality; Unemployment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J J12 J64 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021-09-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem, nep-dge and nep-ure
Note: cr542
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Is Marriage for White People? Incarceration, Unemployment, and the Racial Marriage Divide (2021)
Working Paper: Is Marriage for White People? Incarceration, Unemployment, and the Racial Marriage Divide (2021)
Working Paper: Is Marriage for White People? Incarceration, Unemployment, and the Racial Marriage Divide (2018)
Working Paper: Is Marriage for White People? Incarceration, Unemployment, and the Racial Marriage Divide (2018)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cam:camjip:2105

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