Financial Matters and Romance: This Study Reveals Truths About Income Distribution in Relationships
In a groundbreaking study, Assistant Professor Allison Dunatchik of the University of South Carolina has shed light on the evolving earnings of men and women in different-sex couples. The study, titled "Long-term earnings inequality within and between different-sex couples: His and hers earnings trajectories", delves into the persistent income disparities within and between households.
The research, published in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility on November 22, 2024, analysed the earnings of 5,354 heterosexual couples over 30 years, using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth of 1979.
One of the key findings of the study is the traditional role of the "breadwinner" in a relationship. In 34% of cases, the economically predominant figure was the man, while the woman was only the one who contributed the most of the couple in 5% of the cases. However, the study also revealed that 55% of wives had stable earnings throughout their marriage, contradicting the general idea that women leave their jobs or decrease their income after getting married.
The study explores four key themes:
- Within-Couple Earnings Inequality: The analysis of the wage gap between male and female partners over the long term. It also investigates how traditional gender roles and labor market dynamics contribute to persistent income disparities within households. Factors like employment interruptions, occupational segregation, part-time work, or caregiving responsibilities are examined for their influence on earnings trajectories.
- Between-Couple Earnings Inequality: This theme looks at differences in earnings distributions across couples, often due to assortative mating (partners pairing with others of similar socioeconomic status), regional economic opportunities, education, and gender norms. It also examines how couples’ combined earnings compare to national or regional averages and what drives inequality between higher- and lower-earning households.
- Longitudinal Analysis of Earnings Trajectories: Using longitudinal data, the study maps the earning paths of men and women over many years or decades. It also looks at how inequality evolves as couples move through different life stages.
- Policy and Social Implications: Understanding these earnings patterns helps in designing policies aimed at reducing gender inequality in the labor market. The implications for retirement security, wealth accumulation, and economic independence within couples are also explored.
The study also uncovered two patterns that were more prevalent in couples with lower educational and socioeconomic levels. The "Jointly mobile patterns" (6%) and "Alternating earner pattern" (5%) were found in these couples. On the other hand, the first pattern, called "Dual-earner partner", constituted approximately 50% of the total and was characterized by stable and equal earnings on the part of both members of the marriage. The third pattern consisted of a "Alternating earner pattern"; where the husband and wife exchanged the position of the member with the most profits, with an incidence of approximately 5%.
Allison Dunatchik was surprised by the large percentage of wives who had stable and high incomes, especially when compared to the percentage of husbands who had unstable earnings (23%). The 23% of men with unstable earnings (almost 25% of the total) show that spouses do not tend to maintain a stable income throughout their married life.
The study shows that women, after getting married, did not abandon their careers and that they even had high and stable incomes. Approximately 60% of the analyzed marriages followed a pattern of egalitarian finances. The second pattern, represented by approximately 6% of the couples analyzed, reported the model of "Jointly mobile patterns", where both members of the couple experienced the same or similar fluctuations in their income over time.
The first pattern (that of man as "breadwinner") coincides with couples with lower socioeconomic levels, while the second pattern (the woman as the main breadwinner) coincides with couple models in which the wife, before getting married, has a high educational and economic level. The 60% of couples who present the "dual-earner pattern" (both members bring in similar gains) is a surprising finding.
More economic studies from a gender perspective are needed to clarify certain points related to gender diversity, especially in the context of Generations Millennial and Z. If you're interested in detailed findings or the methodology Allison Dunatchik used, you might look for the full academic article or related publications to get specific data and statistical insights.
- The study by Assistant Professor Allison Dunatchik suggests that traditional gender roles in terms of financial contribution within couples persist, with men being the economically predominant figure in 34% of cases, while women held this position in only 5%.
- Contrary to the general notion, the research finds that 55% of wives had stable earnings throughout their marriage, challenging the idea that women leave their jobs or decrease their income after getting married.
- The study also highlights an interesting trend in relationships between socioeconomically lower couples, where 6% of the cases display "Jointly mobile patterns", indicating that both partners experienced similar income fluctuations over time.
