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Comparing the role of height between men and women in the marriage market

Author

Listed:
  • Eiji Yamamura

    (Department of Economics, Seinan Gakuin University)

  • Yoshiro Tsutsui

    (Department of Economics, Konan University)

Abstract

This paper attempts to explore how the different roles of height between men and women in the marriage market changed across generations. Using individual-level data from Japan, we compared the effect of height on marriages between men and women, and investigated how the effect of height on marriage changed across generations. Our key findings are: (1) For those who were born before 1965, a 1% increase in height led to an approximately 0.3% increase in the probability that men were married. Conversely, a 1% increase in height led to an approximately 0.3% decrease in the probability that women were married. (2) For those who were born in or after 1965, a 1% increase in height led to an approximately 1.40% increase in the probability that men were married. However, the height effect disappeared for women. Japan experienced a miraculous economic development post-World War II, which resulted in changes in its economic and social structure. These changes may change the role of height for Japanese women in the marriage market.

Suggested Citation

  • Eiji Yamamura & Yoshiro Tsutsui, 2016. "Comparing the role of height between men and women in the marriage market," Discussion Papers in Economics and Business 16-20, Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:osk:wpaper:1620
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    File URL: http://www2.econ.osaka-u.ac.jp/library/global/dp/1620.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Marriage market; Height; Preference change.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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