Marriage and Wages: A Test of the Specialization Hypothesis

C-Tier
Journal: Economica
Year: 2008
Volume: 75
Issue: 299
Pages: 569-591

Authors (2)

ELENA BARDASI (not in RePEc) MARK TAYLOR (University of Essex)

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

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

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between marriage and wages among men in Britain using panel data. Our econometric specifications allow for observed and unobserved heterogeneity and explicitly test the role of intra‐household specialization in explaining the observed relationship. Our estimates provide evidence for the existence of large selection effects into marriage based on observable and unobservable characteristics that are positively correlated with wages. After accounting for individual‐specific time‐invariant effects and a wide range of individual, household, job and employer related characteristics, we find a statistically significant premium that can be attributed to productivity differences largely resulting from intra‐household specialization.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:econom:v:75:y:2008:i:299:p:569-591
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-29