Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/204309 
Year of Publication: 
2010
Series/Report no.: 
FOI Working Paper No. 2010/4
Publisher: 
University of Copenhagen, Department of Food and Resource Economics (IFRO), Copenhagen
Abstract: 
Despite the strong and persistent influence of Gary Becker's marriage model, the model does not completely explain the observed correlation between married women's labor market participation and overall divorce rates. In this paper we show how a simple sociologically inspired extension of the model realigns the model's predictions with the observed trends. The extension builds on Becker's own claim that partners match on preference for partner specialization, and, as a novelty, on additional sociological theory claiming that preference coordination tend to happen subconsciously. When we incorporate this aspect into Becker's model, the model provides predictions of divorce rates and causes that fit more closely with empirical observations.
Subjects: 
marriage market
JEL: 
J1
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.