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Couples, Careers, and Spatial Mobility

Author

Listed:
  • Lea Nassal

    (Lea Nassal)

  • Marie Paul

    (Marie Paul)

Abstract

We investigate the effects of long-distance moves of married couples on both spouses’ earnings, employment and job characteristics based on a new administrative dataset from Germany. Employing difference-in-difference propensity score matching and accounting for spouses’ pre-move employment biographies, we show that men’s earnings increase significantly after the move, whereas women suffer large losses in the first years. Men’s earnings increases are mainly driven by increasing wages and switches to slightly larger and better paying firms. Investigating effect heterogeneity with respect to pre-move relative earnings or for whose job opportunity couples move, confirms strong gender asymmetries in gains to moving.

Suggested Citation

  • Lea Nassal & Marie Paul, 2022. "Couples, Careers, and Spatial Mobility," RFBerlin Discussion Paper Series 2220, ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin (RFBerlin).
    • Handle: RePEc:crm:wpaper:2220
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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