MARRIAGE - DISTANCE BETWEEN BIRTHPLACES AND AGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MATES

The methodology of potential mate analysis can be used to obtain infor mation about the determinants of marriage. This study investigates the influence of the distance between birthplaces and of age difference b etween mates. We use a new method of potential mate analysis that invo lves a sample of potential mates simulated from a sequence of actual m ates. The differences between actual and potential mates are investiga ted using a logistic model and by direct comparison of distributions. The logistic model gives a poor fit. The comparison of distributions r eveals no significant difference in distance between birthplaces for a ctual and potential mates or, at any rate, no difference large enough to be demonstrated by our small sample. A marked difference is observe d for marriages in which the male is slightly older. The distance betw een birthplaces in our sample is shorter than in Great Britain.