SECOND TIME SWEETER? MARITAL MATCHING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND MARRIAGES

Abstract

ABSTRACT We use data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979 (NLSY79) to examine changes in matching patterns between first and second marriages in the US. Using Becker''s (1973, 1974) efficient marriage market hypothesis and following Dalmia and Sicilian (2008), we develop an empirical framework to understand the importance of individual traits in spouse selection. Our structural model estimates indicate that positive assortative mating (degree of homogamy) strengthens in second marriages over first marriages. The share of couples who marry up (hypergamy) and marry down (hypogamy) falls substantially as individuals sort to partners who are more similar to them in many aspects, particularly age, education, and hours worked, in their second marriage. Finally, we find the matching patterns of second marriages to be similar to those of ongoing first marriages, providing further evidence that “likes do marry likes.” Keywords Marital assignments, assortative mating, market efficiency