Gender Differences in the Probability of Post-Divorce Rematching and the Quality of the New Match

43 Pages Posted: 15 Jun 2013 Last revised: 4 Nov 2013

See all articles by Sietse Bracke

Sietse Bracke

Ghent University - Department of General Economics

Koen J. L. Schoors

Ghent University - Centre for Russian International Socio-Political and Economic Studies (CERISE); Ghent University - Department of General Economics

Date Written: October 17, 2013

Abstract

Using data from a longitudinal post-divorce survey in Belgium we observe the probabilities of post-divorce repartnering and of post-divorce cohabiting with a new partner. We analyse the drivers of these rematching probabilities and find substantial differences between the sexes. We also analyse how the new match differs from the preceding marriage in terms of marital homogamy and the quality of the match. Marital homogamy in terms of earnings is higher in the post-divorce match for both men and women. Age homogamy on the other hand increases for women but decreases substantially for men. Men are specifically likely to repartner with younger women, while women are not likely to repartner with younger men. We proceed by proposing a simple index of the quality of a match and find that men on average repartner with a woman of higher quality, whereas the opposite holds for women.

Keywords: Divorce, Matching, Repartnering, Survival Analysis

JEL Classification: J12

Suggested Citation

Bracke, Sietse and Schoors, Koen J. L., Gender Differences in the Probability of Post-Divorce Rematching and the Quality of the New Match (October 17, 2013). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2279498 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2279498

Sietse Bracke (Contact Author)

Ghent University - Department of General Economics ( email )

Hoveniersberg 24
Ghent, 9000
Belgium

Koen J. L. Schoors

Ghent University - Centre for Russian International Socio-Political and Economic Studies (CERISE) ( email )

Tweekerkenstraat 2
Ghent, 9000
Belgium
+32 9 264 34 78 (Phone)
+32 9 265 35 99 (Fax)

Ghent University - Department of General Economics ( email )

Tweekerkenstraat 2
Ghent, 9000
Belgium
+32 9 264 34 78 (Phone)
+32 9 264 35 99 (Fax)

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