Sexual Orientation and Household Savings: Do Homosexual Couples Save More?

Brighita Negrusa () and Sonia Oreffice
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Brighita Negrusa: RAND

No 4961, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We analyze how sexual orientation is related to household savings using 2000 US Census data, and find that gay and lesbian couples own significantly more retirement income than heterosexuals, while cohabiting heterosexuals save more than their married counterparts. In a household savings model, we interpret this homosexual-specific differential as due to the extremely low fertility of same-sex couples, in addition to the precautionary motives driving cohabiting households to save more than married ones. Evidence from homeowners' ratio of mortgage payments to house value exhibits the same pattern of savings differentials by sexual orientation and cohabiting status.

Keywords: housing; sexual orientation; household savings; retirement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D1 D12 J15 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 42 pages
Date: 2010-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Published - published as 'Sexual orientation and household financial decisions: evidence from couples in the United States' in: Review of Economics of the Household, 2011, 9 (4), 445-463

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Working Paper: Sexual orientation and household savings: do homosexual couples save more? (2010)
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