MARITAL-STATUS AND EARNINGS IN DEVELOPED-COUNTRIES

When estimating earnings equations for men in the United States, a dic hotomous variable for whether or not the man is currently married is o ften included as a regressor. The coefficient estimate for this variab le is most usually large and significant. However, there is rarely muc h discussion of the marriage effect. This effect is central to this st udy, which contributes to the understanding of this statistical associ ation in two ways. First, it shows that the relationship exists in alm ost all of the fourteen developed countries examined and across severa l different time periods. Controlling for age, and, when available, ed ucation, race/ethnicity, hours worked, and location, marriage differen ces in annual earnings;in favor of currently married males range from 0% to 30%. Second, it finds that there are important differences betwe en those who are separated, divorced, widowed, and never married.