Trends in Assortative Mating and Offspring Outcomes

A-Tier
Journal: Economic Journal
Year: 2023
Volume: 133
Issue: 651
Pages: 928-950

Score contribution per author:

0.804 = (α=2.01 / 5 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We study assortative mating of Norwegian parents over five decades and its consequences for offspring outcomes. Parents are characterised by the earnings decile of their parents (the offspring's grandparents) as an indicator of social class. While assortative mating has remained stable across decades, parenthood has become more skewed toward the higher classes. Examining the influence on offspring education and employment, we find that the marginal effect of one parent's class is smaller the higher is the class of the other. Overall, mating trends have contributed to slight improvements in average education and employment and reduced inequality in the offspring generation.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:econjl:v:133:y:2023:i:651:p:928-950.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
5
Added to Database
2026-01-25