Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/323666 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Citation: 
[Journal:] European Journal of Population [ISSN:] 1572-9885 [Volume:] 41 [Issue:] 1 [Article No.:] 16 [Publisher:] Springer Netherlands [Place:] Dordrecht [Year:] 2025
Publisher: 
Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht
Abstract: 
Abstract Existing research has demonstrated that wealthier individuals differ in family formation. Potential explanations draw on wealth’s use and symbolic value as well as the relative economic bar of family formation. This study examines the relationship between wealth and three family formation events in Germany: first cohabitation, marriage, and birth. Data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (2002–2017) are used with multi-state, competing-risk, discrete-time event history analysis. Results show that wealth, primarily driven by homeownership, significantly influences cohabitation, marriage, and birth. The impact of homeownership is particularly notable for marriage and birth and shows gender-specific associations for cohabitants. The findings highlight the substantial influence of wealth—most likely through its symbolic and use value—in shaping family formation while indicating limited support for a relative economic bar in Germany.
Subjects: 
Family
Wealth
Stratification
Event history analysis
Fertility
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
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Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version
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