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The Role of Assortative Mating on Population Growth in Contemporary Developed Societies

In: Agent-Based Computational Modelling

Author

Listed:
  • Mike Murphy

    (London School of Economics)

Abstract

Summary Assortative mating is a widespread feature of human behaviour, which has a number of suggested benefits. The question of whether it contributes to population growth in contemporary societies is considered using the micro simulation program SOCSIM. Ways of parameterising heterogeneous fertility and nuptiality, and the relationship of such parameters to those of both fathers and mothers are considered. The magnitude of the correlation between numbers of sibs of the partners is similar to that of the correlation between number of sibs of the mother and the number of her own children. Models that can generate such degrees of similarity are discussed. If continued for 250 years, populations with long-standing assortative mating, and with demographic parameter values that bound those found in practice would have fertility levels about 2% to 30% higher than those without assortative mating, and also earlier age at first marriage. Population size is between about 30% and 200% higher at the end of the period. I conclude that the effect of assortative mating in which the fertility backgrounds of spouses are positively correlated leads to higher population growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Mike Murphy, 2006. "The Role of Assortative Mating on Population Growth in Contemporary Developed Societies," Contributions to Economics, in: Francesco C. Billari & Thomas Fent & Alexia Prskawetz & Jürgen Scheffran (ed.), Agent-Based Computational Modelling, pages 61-84, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:conchp:978-3-7908-1721-8_4
    DOI: 10.1007/3-7908-1721-X_4
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    Cited by:

    1. Sara Cools & Rannveig Kaldager Hart, 2015. "The effect of childhood family size on fertility in adulthood. New evidence form IV estimation," Discussion Papers 802, Statistics Norway, Research Department.

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