State minimum wage increases delay marriage and reduce divorce among low-wage households.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To estimate the effects of state-level changes in the minimum wage on marriage and divorce among low-wage earners.

Background

Proponents of raising the minimum wage highlight the potential benefits of increased earnings for low-income families, yet to date research on the effects of raising the minimum wage has focused almost exclusively on economic outcomes. No research has yet documented whether these changes actually affect marriage and divorce.

Method

Using the Current Population Survey and the American Community Survey, this project applied a quasi-experimental difference-in-difference method to exploit similarities between states that have, and have not, raised their minimum wage.

Results

Across data sources, among men and women earning low wage

SUBMITTER: Karney BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9545266 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature