The marriage age U-shape

authored by

Pavel Jelnov

Abstract

In this paper, I address the U-shaped dynamics (a decrease followed by an increase) in the age at first marriage during the twentieth century. First, I show that the U-shaped dynamics have been steeper in Western that in other countries. Second, I find that these dynamics in the West are strongly related to the post-World War II (WWII) economic growth. By contrast, in the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries age of marriage was much less correlated across Western countries. I propose a simple model where age of marriage is a function of search frictions and married women's labor force participation. Both factors put together generate U-shaped dynamics as a result of an industrial boom that mimics the post-WWII Western economic development.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Labour Economics

External Organisation(s)

Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Type

Article

Journal

Journal of demographic economics

Volume

89

Pages

211-252

No. of pages

42

ISSN

2054-0892

Publication date

2023

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Demography, Geography, Planning and Development, Economics and Econometrics

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1017/dem.2021.27 (Access: Open)