Report

Does Marriage Make People Happy, Or Do Happy People Get Married?

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Stutzer, Alois
Frey, Bruno S.

Abstract / Description

This paper analyzes the causal relationships between marriage and subjective well-being in a longitudinal data set spanning 17 years. We find evidence that happier singles opt more likely for marriage and that there are large differences in the benefits from marriage between couples. Potential, as well as actual, division of labor seems to contribute to spouses' wellbeing, especially for women and when there is a young family to raise. In contrast, large differences in the partners' educational level have a negative effect on experienced life satisfaction.

Keyword(s)

Arbeitsteilung Ehe Eheschließung Zufriedenheit Arbeitsteilung Ehe Eheschließung Zufriedenheit division of labor marriage selection subjective well-being

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2005

Is part of series

Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit/ Institute for the Study of Labor: IZA Discussion Paper Series;1811

Citation

  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Stutzer, Alois
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Frey, Bruno S.
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2022-11-17T11:01:26Z
  • Made available on
    2008-06-09
  • Made available on
    2015-12-01T10:32:14Z
  • Made available on
    2022-11-17T11:01:26Z
  • Date of first publication
    2005
  • Abstract / Description
    This paper analyzes the causal relationships between marriage and subjective well-being in a longitudinal data set spanning 17 years. We find evidence that happier singles opt more likely for marriage and that there are large differences in the benefits from marriage between couples. Potential, as well as actual, division of labor seems to contribute to spouses' wellbeing, especially for women and when there is a young family to raise. In contrast, large differences in the partners' educational level have a negative effect on experienced life satisfaction.
    en
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bsz:291-psydok-16605
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11780/1124
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.8878
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Is part of
    IZA Discussion Paper Series No. 1811
  • Is part of series
    Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit/ Institute for the Study of Labor: IZA Discussion Paper Series;1811
  • Keyword(s)
    Arbeitsteilung
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Ehe
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Eheschließung
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Zufriedenheit
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Arbeitsteilung
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Ehe
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Eheschließung
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    Zufriedenheit
    de
  • Keyword(s)
    division of labor
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    marriage
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    selection
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    subjective well-being
    en
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Does Marriage Make People Happy, Or Do Happy People Get Married?
    en
  • DRO type
    report
  • Visible tag(s)
    PsyDok