2025/01/08 by Sitian Liu · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics
paper · doi:10.3368/jhr.0221-11499r5
openalex publication_date 2025/01/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
<h3>Abstract</h3> This paper studies the impact of the introduction of unilateral divorce on assortative mating and household income inequality among newly married couples. I exploit variation in the adoption and timing of unilateral divorce laws using three empirical methods. I find that unilateral divorce led to an increase in household income inequality. The rise was likely driven by heightened assortative mating—unilateral divorce moderately increased educational sorting and substantially increased income sorting. Part of the increase in assortative mating could be attributed to reduced marriage rates among college graduates and changes in women’s labor supply decisions at the time of marriage.