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A Marriage-Market Perspective on Risk-Taking and Career Choices: Theory and Evidence

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  • Zhang, Hanzhe

    (Michigan State University, Department of Economics)

Abstract

This paper investigates how the marriage market affects risk-taking and career choices in a general equilibrium framework, and provides a marriage-market-based justification for risk-taking. Furthermore, by only assuming women's inability to reap the benefits of a risky career due to their shorter reproductive span, the paper predicts that compared with men, women (a) are less likely to choose a risky career when unmarried, (b) have lower within-gender income inequality, (c) marry earlier, and (d) are more likely to switch to a risky career when married. I provide evidence consistent with these predictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Hanzhe, 2020. "A Marriage-Market Perspective on Risk-Taking and Career Choices: Theory and Evidence," Working Papers 2020-2, Michigan State University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:msuecw:2020_002
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    File URL: http://econ.msu.edu/repec/wp/1702MarriageCareer.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. He, Simin & Wu, Jiabin & Zhang, Hanzhe, 2021. "Experimental and Noncooperative Analyses of Decentralized Matching with Transfers," Working Papers 2021-2, Michigan State University, Department of Economics.
    2. Zhang, Hanzhe, 2020. "Pre-matching gambles," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 76-89.
    3. Wu, Jiabin & Zhang, Hanzhe, 2021. "Preference evolution in different matching markets," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    marriage market; risk-taking; college major choices; career choices; differential fecundity; gender differences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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