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Male Marital Wage Differentials: Training, Personal Characteristics, And Fixed Effects

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  • WILLIAM M. RODGERS
  • LESLIE S. STRATTON

Abstract

Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, we replicate previous estimates of the marital wage differential for white men, extend the analysis to African American men, then explain the within and between race differentials. We first control for formal job training, then for cognitive skills, parental background, and self‐esteem with little effect. By contrast, the white differential but not the black differential disappears in fixed‐effects estimation. We reconcile the cross‐section/panel differentials by focusing on the distinct identification conditions employed by each technique. Men who never change marital status play a significant role in white cross‐sectional estimates. (JEL J31, J12)

Suggested Citation

  • William M. Rodgers & Leslie S. Stratton, 2010. "Male Marital Wage Differentials: Training, Personal Characteristics, And Fixed Effects," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 48(3), pages 722-742, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ecinqu:v:48:y:2010:i:3:p:722-742
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1465-7295.2008.00209.x
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    4. Adam Blandin & John Bailey Jones & Fang Yang, 2023. "Marriage and Work Among Prime-Age Men," Working Papers 2313, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure

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