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Impact of Changes in Marriage Law: Implications for Fertility and School Enrollment

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  • Prashant Bharadwaj

Abstract

Does the postponement of marriage affect fertility and investment in human capital? I study this question in the context of a 1957 amendment to the Mississippi marriage law that was aimed at delaying the age of marriage; changes included raising the minimum age for men and women, parental consent requirements, compulsory blood tests, and proof of age. Using a difference- in-differences design at the county level, I find that, overall, marriages per 1,000 in the population in Mississippi and its neighboring counties decreased by nearly 75 percent; the crude birth rate decreased between 2 and 6 percent; and school enrollment increased by 3 percent after the law was enacted (by 1960). An unintended consequence of the law change was that illegitimate births among young black mothers increased by 7 percent. I show that changes in labor market conditions during this period cannot explain the changes in marriages, births, and enrollment. I conclude that stricter marriage- related regulations that lead to a delay in marriage can postpone fertility and increase school enrollment.

Suggested Citation

  • Prashant Bharadwaj, 2015. "Impact of Changes in Marriage Law: Implications for Fertility and School Enrollment," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 50(3), pages 614-654.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:50:y:2015:i:3:p:614-654
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    5. Adrianna Bella & Nicole Black & Teguh Dartanto & Danusha Jayawardana & Dennis Petrie, 2025. "Beyond the Minimum: The Impact of Indonesia’s Marriage Age Law on Child Marriage and Education," Papers 2025-17, Centre for Health Economics, Monash University.
    6. Løken, Katrine V. & Lommerud, Kjell Erik & Holm Reiso, Katrine, 2018. "Single mothers and their children: Evaluating a work-encouraging welfare reform," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 1-20.
    7. Siwan Anderson & Chris Bidner, 2021. "An Institutional Perspective on the Economics of the Family," Discussion Papers dp21-14, Department of Economics, Simon Fraser University.
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    9. Jorge Garcia-Hombrados & Berkay Özcan, 2024. "Age at marriage and marital stability: evidence from China," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 297-328, March.
    10. Audrey Au Yong Lyn & Helmut Rainer, 2019. "Prohibition without Protection: Marriageable Age Law Reforms and Adolescent Fertility in Mexico," ifo Working Paper Series 314, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    11. Ho Lun Wong, 2021. "Effect of marriage registration on fertility and intrahousehold distribution in Thailand," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 312-338, August.
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    13. Collin, Matthew & Talbot, Theodore, 2023. "Are age-of-marriage laws enforced? Evidence from developing countries," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    14. Bhukta, Rikhia & Pakrashi, Debayan & Saha, Sarani & Sedai, Ashish, 2024. "Community electrification and women’s autonomy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    15. Orsola Torrisi, 2021. "A 'bright' side of war? Armed conflict and female teen marriage in Azerbaijan," HiCN Working Papers 359, Households in Conflict Network.
    16. Matthew Collin & Theodore Talbot, 2017. "Do Age-of-Marriage Laws Work? Evidence from a Large Sample of Developing Countries - Working Paper 458," Working Papers 458, Center for Global Development.

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