Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/307244 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 17420
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We study the mating patterns of non-heterosexual individuals, who represent a significant and increasing portion of the population, particularly among the youth. We estimate a multidimensional matching model of the marriage market where partner's gender is endogenously chosen conditional on the agent's sexual orientation, and is subject to trade-offs that depend on both the agents' preferences and the pool of potential partners. We show that same-sex couples experience lower gains from live-in relationships, a "same-sex penalty". Absent this penalty, the share of same-sex couples in the U.S. would increase by about 50% (from 1.36% to 2.05% of all couples).
Subjects: 
matching
marriage market
homogamy
same-sex households
sexual orientation
gender
JEL: 
D1
C51
J12
J15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





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