Is There an Economic Bar for Marriage? Socioeconomic status differentials and implications for marriage promotion policies

This study investigates the existence and level of the hypothesized economic bar to marriage, the economic threshold couples must reach before they will marry. I consider differences by socioeconomic status in levels of combined couple earnings associated with increased odds of marriage among cohabiting couples. Earnings are most important for those with a high school degree or less. At $26,000 of combined earnings, marriage odds increase significantly for couples with less than a high school degree. For high school graduates, the increase in marriage odds is found after $34,000. Because the earnings bar for marriage is above the poverty threshold and above the phase-out for many government transfer programs, it is unlikely that income supplements or tax credits would push disadvantaged couples above the bar.