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Assortative mating in the online market for sperm donation

Author

Listed:
  • Stephen Whyte

    (Queensland University of Technology)

  • Benno Torgler

    (Queensland University of Technology
    CREMA—Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts)

Abstract

Previous studies on assortative mating have struggled to isolate preferences from actual constraints faced throughout the matching process, including the geographic and social propinquity that limit the availability of possible mates. Because such passive factors restrict the possibility set of potential partners, they may either restrict the chance of fulfilling mating preferences or lead to a high level of positive assortative mating. The possibility set may be further reduced by competition in the mating market. It is also unclear from couple’s data how much assortative mating is driven by partner selection to reduce anticipated child rearing problem and how much by a desire for parental assistance and altruistic preferences for offspring. Adopting the online market for sperm donation as the research setting reduces such problems: the more controlled setting ensures isolation of a male’s genetic impact on his offspring from other factors. By identifying the factors that influence the symmetry of characteristics between recipients and partners and recipients and donors chosen, we provide empirical evidence that even with limited constraints on available choice, women still exhibit homogamous donor preferences. Likewise, by exploring how potential donors’ characteristics match partner characteristics, we offer insights into what drives recipients’ desires to find donors who surpass both their own and their partners’ characteristics.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Whyte & Benno Torgler, 2016. "Assortative mating in the online market for sperm donation," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 169-194, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbioec:v:18:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s10818-016-9232-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10818-016-9232-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephen Whyte & Benno Torgler, 2015. "Selection criteria in the search for a sperm donor: behavioural traits versus physical appearance," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 151-171, July.
    2. Christine Schwartz & Robert Mare, 2005. "Trends in educational assortative marriage from 1940 to 2003," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 42(4), pages 621-646, November.
    3. Stephen Whyte & Benno Torgler, 2016. "Determinants of online sperm donor success: how women choose," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(8), pages 592-596, May.
    4. Gunter J. Hitsch & Ali Hortaçsu & Dan Ariely, 2010. "Matching and Sorting in Online Dating," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(1), pages 130-163, March.
    5. Ran Abramitzky & Adeline Delavande & Luis Vasconcelos, 2011. "Marrying Up: The Role of Sex Ratio in Assortative Matching," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 3(3), pages 124-157, July.
    6. Christine Schwartz & Nikki Graf, 2009. "Assortative matching among same-sex and different-sex couples in the United States, 1990-2000," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 21(28), pages 843-878.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Assortative mating; Matching; Online sperm donor market; Preferences; Mate choice; Reproduction;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • Z00 - Other Special Topics - - General - - - General

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