Heterogeneity in Spousal Matching Models

15 Pages Posted: 6 Apr 2015

See all articles by Jason M. Fletcher

Jason M. Fletcher

University of Wisconsin - Madison - Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs; Yale University - School of Public Health

Norma A. Padron

Yale University

Abstract

An important paper by Chiappori et al. (2012) has proposed an elegant and parsimonious model of spousal matching over multi-dimensional characteristics. Importantly, the model suggests specific testable assumptions that allow researchers to uncover marginal rates of substitution (MRS) between spousal traits, and the authors use the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to show that the model is not rejected by the data. In this paper, we extend the analysis to two additional representative samples of US couples and find in each case, the data reject the MRS implication of the model.

Keywords: marriage market, marriage matching, multidimensional matching, trade-offs, spouses, body mass index (BMI), education

JEL Classification: D1, J1, C78

Suggested Citation

Fletcher, Jason M. and Padron, Norma A., Heterogeneity in Spousal Matching Models. IZA Discussion Paper No. 8936, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2589778 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2589778

Jason M. Fletcher (Contact Author)

University of Wisconsin - Madison - Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs ( email )

1180 Observatory Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1393
United States

Yale University - School of Public Health ( email )

PO Box 208034
60 College Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8034
United States

Norma A. Padron

Yale University

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