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Who Married, (to) Whom, and Where? Trends in Marriage in the United States, 1850-1940

Author

Listed:
  • Claudia Olivetti
  • M. Daniele Paserman
  • Laura Salisbury
  • E. Anna Weber

Abstract

We present new findings about the relationship between marriage and socioeconomic background in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Imputing socioeconomic status of family of origin from first names, we document a socioeconomic gradient for women in the probability of marriage and the socioeconomic status of husbands. This socioeconomic gradient becomes steeper over time. We investigate the degree to which it can be explained by occupational income divergence across geographic regions. Regional divergence explains about one half of the socioeconomic divergence in the probability of marriage, and almost all of the increase in marital sorting. Differences in urbanization rates and the share of foreign-born across states drive most of these differences, while other factors (the scholarization rate, the sex ratio and the share in manufacturing) play a smaller role.

Suggested Citation

  • Claudia Olivetti & M. Daniele Paserman & Laura Salisbury & E. Anna Weber, 2020. "Who Married, (to) Whom, and Where? Trends in Marriage in the United States, 1850-1940," NBER Working Papers 28033, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28033
    Note: DAE LS
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    Cited by:

    1. Berkes, Enrico & Coluccia, Davide Maria & Dossi, Gaia & Squicciarini, Mara, 2023. "Dealing With Adversity: Religiosity or Science? Evidence From the Great Influenza Pandemic," CEPR Discussion Papers 18008, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • N31 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N32 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • N91 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913
    • N92 - Economic History - - Regional and Urban History - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-

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