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Accounting for Racial Differences in Marriage and Employment

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  • Shannon Seitz

Abstract

What can account for the differences in marriage and employment decisions across blacks and whites? To answer this question, I develop a dynamic, equilibrium model of marriage. Two explanations for the racial differences in behavior are considered: differences in population supplies and wages. Black-white differences in population supplies explain one-fifth of the difference in marriage rates and between one-fifth and one-third of the differences in employment rates across race. Removing the racial gap in wages eliminates the differences in employment but increases the differences in marriage rates. (c) 2009 by The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.

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  • Shannon Seitz, 2009. "Accounting for Racial Differences in Marriage and Employment," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 27(3), pages 385-437, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:v:27:y:2009:i:3:p:385-437
    DOI: 10.1086/599281
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J11 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Demographic Trends, Macroeconomic Effects, and Forecasts
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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