Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Married people are consistently found to be better off economically than all categories of unmarried people.It is clear marital decisions have economic consequences.However, the decision of when to marry also appears to have economic consequences.Past scholarship reveals that marrying early puts one at risk of low educational attainment, lower average income, holding lower-status jobs, and a higher probability of divorce.While considerable attention has been given to the consequences of early marriage, the consequences of late marriage have hardly been studied.The term marital timing has been used interchangeably with the term early marriage and as a by-product research on the effects of late marriage has been neglected.It is also important not to confuse the economic consequences of marital timing with consequences of its antecedents.Using twenty waves of data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, spanning twenty-four years, this study examines the economic antecedents of marital timing and the effect of marrying early, on-time, or late on individual earnings over time separately by gender.Indeed, I find different levels of economic resources influence marital timing; however, men's probability of an early or late marriage is not affected by the same types of resources that affect women's probability of an early or late marriage.Additionally, marital timing significantly affects men and women's yearly earnings over time.Furthermore, I find the effect of marital timing on earnings is influenced by multiple levels of resources.However, gender differences in the nature of these relationships exist.In addition, while the resource measures examined explain the earnings differentials by marital timing among women, they do not do so for men.iii This dissertation is dedicated to Number 1, Number 2, and Number 3.You are the how and the why.I love you so very much!~~ been spent on the Bowling Green campus.While the road has been long and winding, the writing of this acknowledgement is a symbol that it has been a successful one.I owe a great deal of gratitude to a great deal of people for making the dream of achieving a PhD. a reality.First, I would like to thank Gary Lee--my advisor--for never giving up on me, supporting me, and encouraging me throughout every step of my graduate career.He has been there as I battled illness, sickness, and injury.Thank you for being a steadfast advisor.Next, I would like to thank Al DeMaris.Not only did you graciously agree to be a co-chair on my dissertation committee, but you are the individual who taught me the advanced statistical techniques that made this project possible.You have rekindled a fire--a love of math--that will forever burn.Next, I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to Susan Brown and Wendy Manning.Not only are they amazing committee members, but also fantastic professors and bosses.I can't imagine two better individuals to work for.Your understanding and compassion towards me is deeply appreciated.You both inspire me to be a better researcher, a better educator, a better woman.My family.Without you, none of this would have been possible.Mom and Dad, you have ALWAYS been there.You have helped in so many ways.In these final months, it has been your faith that has seen me through, your faith that helped me recognize my own.That is an immeasurable gift.Matthew, my husband, your continuing support, understanding, amazing skills as a father, and undeniable love for me has been what I could count on.To my siblings, my friends, you are the best!And last, but most certainly not least, Cole and Izak.My boyz.
Author: Krista K. Payne
Institution: Bowling Green State University
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Bowling Green State University
OpenAlex ID: W1897046935