An Assessment of Several Marriage Market Related Explanations for the Decline in Female Marriage Rates Between 1970 and 1980

The La Follette School takes no stand on policy issues; opinions expressed within these papers reflect the views of individual researchers and authors. Abstract This study uses repeated cross sections of individual level data from the Public Use Microdata Samples of the United States Census (PUMS) to examine the role of changing marriage market conditions in the decline in female marriage rates between 1970 and 1980. Particular emphasis is placed on documenting the importance of changes in mate availability and quality in accounting for large decreases in marriage rates experienced by White and Black 18-30 year olds. The results indicate that much of the decrease in marriage rates among White females ages 18 to 30 remains unexplained and that increases in school enrollment and deteriorating marriage market conditions were important in accounting for the marriage rate decline among Black females ages 18 to 30.