Is There an Economic Bar for Marriage? Socioeconomic Status Differentials and Implications for Marriage Promotion Policies

Jennifer Holland, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Economic stability and prospects have always been important for family formation, especially for marriage. Recent research among low-income U.S. couples suggests that couples delay marriage until they reach the perceived economic 'bar' for marriage. This study uses data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 to more extensively investigate the existence and level of the hypothesized marriage bar. I consider differences by socioeconomic status in levels of earnings associated with increases in marriage among cohabiting couples. I find that combined couple earnings are most important for those with a high school degree or less. Marriage odds increase significantly for these couples between $26,000 and $34,000 of combined earnings. The earnings bar for marriage is above the poverty threshold for a family of three ($13,861 in 2000) and above the phase-out for many government transfer programs. It is unlikely that income supplements would push disadvantaged couples above the marriage bar.