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Educational Homogamy: How Much is Opportunities?

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  • Helena Skyt Nielsen
  • Michael Svarer

Abstract

Individuals match on length and type of education. We find that around half of the systematic sorting on education is explained by the tendency of individuals to marry someone who went to the same educational institution or to an institution near them. This may be due to low search frictions or selection of people with the same preferences into the same institutions. The residual half of the systematic sorting on education is a direct effect of partners’ education, which is potentially explained by complementarities in household production in couples with same education.

Suggested Citation

  • Helena Skyt Nielsen & Michael Svarer, 2009. "Educational Homogamy: How Much is Opportunities?," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 44(4).
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:44:y:2009:i4:p1066-1086
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Nielsen, Helena Skyt & Svarer, Michael, 2006. "Educational Homogamy: Preferences or Opportunities?," IZA Discussion Papers 2271, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
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