Assortative Mating by Education and Postponement of Couple Formation and First Birth in Britain and Sweden

Abstract

This paper focuses on postponement of couple formation and first birth. We analyze couples born 1930–1979 who have experienced both events. First, we estimate a spouse choice equation based on individual human capital and family of origin characteristics as well as marriage market indicators, using a multinomial logit model. We create nine educational categories using predicted probabilities. Secondly, we estimate the rates of union formation and first birth using Weibull hazard models with individual unobserved heterogeneity, predicted educational categories from the first step, and other fixed and time varying variables. Higher education of one of the spouses, duration of education, and unfavorable labor market conditions delay couple formation and first birth. Swedish women form their unions later than British women, but once the union has been formed, they have their first birth sooner.