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There’s More to Marriage Than Love: The Effect of Legal Status and Cultural Distance on Intermarriages and Separations

Author

Listed:
  • Jérôme Adda
  • Paolo Pinotti
  • Giulia Tura

Abstract

We analyze the contribution of legal status incentives on the marriage choices of natives and migrants. Access to legal status reduces the probability of immigrants intermarrying with natives by 40% and increases the hazard rate of separation for intermarriages by 20%. We develop and estimate a multidimensional equilibrium model of marriage, fertility, and separation, where individuals match on observed and unobserved characteristics. Allowing for trade-offs between cultural distance, legal status, and other socioeconomic spousal characteristics, we quantify the role of legal status and the strength of cultural preferences and evaluate the welfare consequences of granting legal status to immigrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Jérôme Adda & Paolo Pinotti & Giulia Tura, 2025. "There’s More to Marriage Than Love: The Effect of Legal Status and Cultural Distance on Intermarriages and Separations," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 133(4), pages 1276-1333.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/734093
    DOI: 10.1086/734093
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Matilda Kilström & Birthe Larsen & Elisabet Olme, 2023. "Temporary refugee protection and labor-market outcomes," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(4), pages 1895-1929, October.
    3. Eva Dziadula & Madeline Zavodny, 2024. "Finding love abroad: who marries a migrant and what do they gain?," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 1371-1396, December.
    4. Pieroni, Luca & Roig, Melcior Rosselló & Salmasi, Luca & Turati, Gilberto, 2025. "Legal status and voluntary abortions by immigrants," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    5. Qinyou Hu, 2024. "Social status and marriage markets: Evaluating a Hukou policy in China," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 477-509, June.
    6. Berlanda, Andrea & Lodigiani, Elisabetta & Tosetti, Elisa & Vittadini, Giorgio, 2024. "The impact of EU enlargement on immigrants’ mental health," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 116-135.
    7. Maria Rosaria Carillo & Vincenzo Lombardo & Tiziana Venittelli, 2023. "Social identity and labor market outcomes of immigrants," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 36(1), pages 69-113, January.
    8. Martinez de Lafuente, David, 2021. "Cultural Assimilation and Ethnic Discrimination: An Audit Study with Schools," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    9. Bansak, Cynthia & Dziadula, Eva & Zavodny, Madeline, 2023. "The value of a green card in the U.S. marriage market: A tale of chain migration?," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

    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
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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