Does Marriage Make People Happy, or Do Happy People Get Married?

Abstract

This paper analyzes the causal relationships between marriage and subjective well-being in alongitudinal data set spanning 17 years. We find evidence that happier singles opt more likelyfor marriage and that there are large differences in the benefits from marriage betweencouples. Potential, as well as actual, division of labor seems to contribute to spouses' wellbeing,especially for women and when there is a young family to raise. In contrast, largedifferences in the partners' educational level have a negative effect on experienced lifesatisfaction.

Keywords: subjective well-being, selection, marriage, division of labor

JEL Classification: D13, I31, J12