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Income Inequality and Early Nonmarital Childbearing

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  • Melissa S. Kearney
  • Phillip B. Levine

Abstract

Using individual-level data from the United States, we empirically investigate the role of lower-tail income inequality in determining rates of early nonmarital childbearing among low socioeconomic status (SES) women. We present robust evidence that young low-SES women are more likely to have a nonmarital birth when they live in places with larger lowertail income inequality, all else held constant. We calculate that differences in the level of inequality are able to explain a sizeable share of the geographic variation in teen fertility rates. We propose a model of adolescent decisionmaking that facilitates the interpretation of our results.

Suggested Citation

  • Melissa S. Kearney & Phillip B. Levine, 2014. "Income Inequality and Early Nonmarital Childbearing," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 49(1), pages 1-31.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:49:y:2014:i:1:p:1-31
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    References listed on IDEAS

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