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What Do Parents Want? Parental Spousal Preferences in China

Author

Listed:
  • Seabright, Paul
  • Raiber, Eva
  • Ren, Weiwei
  • Bovet, Jeanne
  • Wang, Charlotte

Abstract

In many societies, parents are involved in selecting a spouse for their child, and integrate this with decisions about migration and educational investment. What type of spouse do parents want for their children? We estimate parents' spousal preferences based on survey choices between random profiles. Preference data are elicited from parents or other relatives who actively search for a spouse on behalf of their adult child in Kunming, China. Economic variables (income and real estate ownership) are important for the choice of sons-in-law, but not daughters-in-law. Education is valued on both sides. We simulate marriage outcomes based on preferences for age and education and compare them with marriage patterns in the general population. Homogamy by education can be explained by parental preferences, but not by age: parents prefer younger wives, yet most couples are the same age. Additionally collected preference data from students can explain age distributions. Survey data from parents suggest that while they prefer younger wives, they also accept wives of the same age. Overall, marriage markets have a likely positive influence on education investments for both boys and girls.

Suggested Citation

  • Seabright, Paul & Raiber, Eva & Ren, Weiwei & Bovet, Jeanne & Wang, Charlotte, 2021. "What Do Parents Want? Parental Spousal Preferences in China," CEPR Discussion Papers 16035, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16035
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Lucie Giorgi & Eva Raiber, 2024. "For better or for babies: The effect of the two-child policy in China on who gets married," French Stata Users' Group Meetings 2024 13, Stata Users Group.
    3. Lippmann, Quentin & Surana, Khushboo, 2025. "The evolution of partner preferences: Evidence using matrimonial ads from Canada, France, India and the United States," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
    4. 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.

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General

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