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Bricks, Mortar, and Wedding Bells: Does the Cost of Housing Affect the Marriage Rate in the US?

Author

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  • Simon W Bowmaker

    (Department of Economics, Stern School of Business, New York University, New York City, NY, 10012, USA.)

  • Patrick M Emerson

    (1] Economics Program, Oregon State University, 303, Ballard Extension Hall, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA.
    2] IZA — Institute for the Study of Labor, Bonn, Germany)

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between the cost of housing and the rate of marriage in 2,450 US counties over the period 1970–1999. It is found that the burden of housing costs appears to play a role in the decision to marry. A higher ratio of the cost of owner-occupied housing to per capita income in a given county is associated with a lower marriage rate. The analysis is also extended to include a measure capturing the relationship between the cost of owning housing and the cost of renting and marriage. Evidence suggests that the greater the difference between the annual cost of owning housing and renting as a proportion of per capita income in a county, the lower the marriage rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon W Bowmaker & Patrick M Emerson, 2015. "Bricks, Mortar, and Wedding Bells: Does the Cost of Housing Affect the Marriage Rate in the US?," Eastern Economic Journal, Palgrave Macmillan;Eastern Economic Association, vol. 41(3), pages 411-429, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:easeco:v:41:y:2015:i:3:p:411-429
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    Cited by:

    1. Audrey Au Yong Lyn & Helmut Rainer, 2019. "Prohibition without Protection: Marriageable Age Law Reforms and Adolescent Fertility in Mexico," ifo Working Paper Series 314, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
    2. C. Y. Cyrus Chu & Jou-Chun Lin & Wen-Jen Tsay, 2020. "Males’ housing wealth and their marriage market advantage," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 33(3), pages 1005-1023, July.

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