Gender Gap in Spousal Education and Wealth After Marriage in India

Abstract

This study examines gender-based disparities in spouse selection among parents in India. Our focus on studying this gender gap in low- and middle-income countries is important as arranged marriages are prevalent in many such societies, and the education and wealth of a groom can significantly impact his spouse and future generations’ long-term economic well-being. Our findings reveal that parents frequently arrange marriages for their daughters with more educated and wealthier grooms, while sons are often matched with brides of lower education. Notably, a novel finding of our study is that daughters, despite generally lower education levels, achieve higher combined educational attainment with their husbands than sons with their wives, especially in areas with lower literacy, income, and employment rates. Overall, our analysis brings to light an important facet of discriminatory societal norms that place a higher value on men’s financial success and women’s social status.