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Driven by institutions, shaped by culture: human capital and the secularization of marriage in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • D. de la Croix

    (UCL IRES - Institut de recherches économiques et sociales - UCL - Université Catholique de Louvain = Catholic University of Louvain)

  • Fabio Mariani

    (UCL IRES - Institut de recherches économiques et sociales - UCL - Université Catholique de Louvain = Catholic University of Louvain)

  • Marion Mercier

    (DIAL - Développement, institutions et analyses de long terme, UCL IRES - Institut de recherches économiques et sociales - UCL - Université Catholique de Louvain = Catholic University of Louvain, LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

We show that in Italy the legalization of divorce unleashed the forces of secularization, making educated persons more likely to contract a civil instead of a religious marriage. This process, ignited by institutional change, is also shaped by culture: higher social capital or weaker family ties make the choice of civil marriage more responsive to education. These results emerge from both aggregate and individual data, and can be rationalized through a model of religiosity, education and marriage choices. In this framework, the option to divorce increases the relative returns to human capital - thereby increasing the prevalence of civil marriage.

Suggested Citation

  • D. de la Croix & Fabio Mariani & Marion Mercier, 2023. "Driven by institutions, shaped by culture: human capital and the secularization of marriage in Italy," Post-Print hal-04312597, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04312597
    DOI: 10.1111/iere.12637
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04312597v1
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    Cited by:

    1. Gabriele Ruiu & Giovanna Gonano, 2020. "Religious Barriers to the Diffusion of Same-sex Civil Unions in Italy," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 39(6), pages 1185-1203, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Divorce; Human Capital; Marriage; Secularization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • I25 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Economic Development
    • N34 - Economic History - - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy - - - Europe: 1913-
    • O4 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity

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