Marriage Market Matching and Conspicuous Consumption in China

21 Pages Posted: 8 May 2015

See all articles by Kevin B. Grier

Kevin B. Grier

Texas Tech University

Daniel L. Hicks

University of Oklahoma - Department of Economics

Weici Yuan

University of Oklahoma - Department of Economics

Date Written: May 5, 2015

Abstract

Visible expenditures which convey higher socioeconomic status may help individuals differentiate themselves in the marriage market when there is competition for partners and imperfect information. We examine a unique dataset of automobile purchasers in China to investigate the extent to which skewed sex ratios influence expenditure decisions for this highly visible commodity. Using a triple difference approach, we show that unmarried male consumers who face an unfavorable sex ratio purchase more expensive, luxury vehicles than their married peers. Lower income borrowers and those residing in regions with the worst sex ratios exhibit the largest relative degree of conspicuous consumption. In addition to the direct cost of consumption signaling, we demonstrate this behavior generates negative externalities in the form of lower average fuel economy and higher average vehicle weight. We view both the status competition and the externalities as unintended consequences of China’s one child policy.

Suggested Citation

Grier, Kevin B. and Hicks, Daniel Lee and Yuan, Weici, Marriage Market Matching and Conspicuous Consumption in China (May 5, 2015). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2603266 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2603266

Kevin B. Grier

Texas Tech University ( email )

2500 Broadway
Lubbock, TX 79409
United States

Daniel Lee Hicks (Contact Author)

University of Oklahoma - Department of Economics ( email )

729 Elm Avenue
Norman, OK 73019-2103
United States

Weici Yuan

University of Oklahoma - Department of Economics ( email )

729 Elm Avenue
Norman, OK 73019-2103
United States

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