Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Connect
    • Feedback
    • Help
    • Request JHR at your library
  • Alerts
  • Free Issue
  • Special Issue
  • Other Publications
    • UWP

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Human Resources
  • Other Publications
    • UWP
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
Journal of Human Resources

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current
    • Ahead of print
    • Archive
    • Supplementary Material
  • Info for
    • Authors
    • Subscribers
    • Institutions
    • Advertisers
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Connect
    • Feedback
    • Help
    • Request JHR at your library
  • Alerts
  • Free Issue
  • Special Issue
  • Follow uwp on Twitter
  • Follow JHR on Bluesky
Research ArticleArticles

Is Marriage Always Good for Children?

Evidence from Families Affected by Incarceration

Keith Finlay and David Neumark
Journal of Human Resources, October 2010, 45 (4) 1046-1088; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.45.4.1046
Keith Finlay
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
David Neumark
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
Loading

References

  1. ↵
    1. Acemoglu Daron,
    2. Angrist Joshua
    . 2000. “How Large are Human-Capital Externalities? Evidence from Compulsory-Schooling Laws.” NBER Macroeconomics Annual 15:9–59.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  2. ↵
    1. Angrist Joshua D.
    1991. “Instrumental Variables Estimation of Average Treatment Effects in Econometrics and Epidemiology.” NBER Technical Working Paper 115.
  3. ↵
    1. Angrist Joshua D.
    2002. “How Do Sex Ratios Affect Marriage and Labor Markets? Evidence from America’s Second Generation.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 117(3):997–1038.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  4. ↵
    1. Bennett Neil G.,
    2. Bloom David E.,
    3. Miller Cynthia K.
    1995. “The Influence of Nonmarital Childbearing on the Formation of First Marriages.” Demography 32(1):47–62.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  5. ↵
    1. Bhattacharya Jay,
    2. Goldman Dana,
    3. McCaffrey Daniel
    . 2006. “Estimating Probit Models with Self-Selected Treatments.” Statistics in Medicine 25(3):389–413.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  6. ↵
    1. Bitler Marianne P.,
    2. Gelbach Jonah B.,
    3. Hoynes Hilary W.
    2006. “Welfare Reform and Children’s Living Arrangements.” Journal of Human Resources 41(1):1–27.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  7. ↵
    1. Blumstein Alfred,
    2. Beck Allen J.
    1999. “Population Growth in U.S. Prisons, 1980–1996.” In Crime and Justice: Prisons, Volume 26, ed. Tonry Michael, Petersilia Joan. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  8. ↵
    1. Brien Michael J
    . 1997. “Racial Differences in Marriage and the Role of Marriage Markets.” Journal of Human Resources 32(4):741–78.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  9. ↵
    1. Bumpass Larry,
    2. Lu Hsien-Hen
    . 2000. “Trends in Cohabitation and Implications for Children’s Family Contexts in the United States.” Population Studies 54(1):29–41.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  10. ↵
    1. Bumpass Larry L.,
    2. Sweet James A.
    1989. “Children’s Experience in Single-Parent Families: Implications of Cohabitation and Marital Transitions.” Family Planning Perspectives 21(6):256–60.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  11. ↵
    1. Butcher Kristin F.,
    2. Piehl Anne Morrison
    . 2007. “Why Are Immigrants’ Incarceration Rates So Low? Evidence on Selective Immigration, Deterrence, and Deportation.” NBER Working Paper 13229.
  12. ↵
    1. Cameron Stephen V.,
    2. Heckman James J.
    1993. “The Nonequivalence of High School Equivalents.” Journal of Labor Economics 11(1):1–47.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  13. ↵
    1. Charles Kerwin Kofi,
    2. Luoh Ming Ching
    . 2010. “Male Incarceration, the Marriage Market, and Female Outcomes.” Review of Economics and Statistics forthcoming.
  14. ↵
    1. Cherlin Andrew J. Jr.,
    2. Furstenberg Frank F.,
    3. Chase-Lansdale P. Lindsay,
    4. Kiernan Kathleen E.,
    5. Robins Philip K.,
    6. Morrison Donna Ruane,
    7. Teitler Julien O.
    1991. “Longitudinal Studies of Effects of Divorce on Children in Great Britain and the United States.” Science 252(5011):1386–89.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  15. ↵
    1. Chernozhukov Victor,
    2. Hansen Christian
    . 2008. “The Reduced Form: A Simple Approach to Inference with Weak Instruments.” Economics Letters 100(1):68–71.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  16. ↵
    1. Dawson Deborah A
    . 1991. “Family Structure and Children’s Health and Well-Being: Data from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey on Child Health.” Journal of Marriage and the Family 53(3):573–84.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  17. ↵
    1. DeVanzo Julie,
    2. Omar Rahman M.
    1993. “American Families: Trends and Correlates.” Population Index 59(3):350–86.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  18. ↵
    1. Edin Kathryn
    . 2000. “What Do Low-Income Single Mothers Say about Marriage?” Social Problems 47(1):112–33.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  19. ↵
    1. Edin Kathryn,
    2. Reed Joanna M.
    2005. “Why Don’t They Just Get Married? Barriers to Marriage Among the Disadvantaged.” The Future of Children 15(2):118–37.
    OpenUrl
  20. ↵
    1. Ehrle Jennifer,
    2. Kortenkamp Katherine,
    3. Stagner Matthew
    . 2003. “Family Structure and Outcomes for Children of Long-Term Welfare Recipients.” Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute. Unpublished.
  21. ↵
    1. Ermisch John F.,
    2. Francesconi Marco
    . 2001. “Family Structure and Children’s Achievements.” Journal of Population Economics 14(2):249–70.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  22. ↵
    1. Finlay Keith,
    2. Magnusson Leandro M.
    2009. “Implementing Weak Instrument Robust Tests for a General Class of Instrumental Variables Models.” Stata Journal 9(3):398–421.
    OpenUrl
  23. ↵
    1. Ginther Donna K.,
    2. Pollak Robert A.
    2004. “Family Structure and Children’s Educational Outcomes: Blended Families, Stylized Facts, and Descriptive Regressions.” Demography 41(4):671–96.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  24. ↵
    1. Grogger Jeff,
    2. Ronan Nick
    . 1995. “The Intergenerational Effects of Fatherlessness on Educational Attainment and Entry-Level Wages.” National Longitudinal Surveys Discussion Paper 96–30. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  25. ↵
    1. Harknett Kristen,
    2. McLanahan Sara S.
    2004. “Racial and Ethnic Differences in Marriage after the Birth of a Child.” American Sociological Review 69(6):790–811.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  26. ↵
    1. Imbens Guido W.,
    2. Angrist Joshua D.
    1994. “Identification and Estimation of Local Average Treatment Effects.” Econometrica 62(2):467–75.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  27. ↵
    1. Joyce Ted,
    2. Kaestner Robert,
    3. Korenman Sanders
    . 2003. “Welfare Reform and Non-Marital Fertility in the 1990s: Evidence from Birth Records.” Advances in Economic Analysis & Policy 3(1): Article 6.
  28. ↵
    1. Kamdar Amee
    . 2007. “Male Incarceration and Teen Fertility.” Chicago: University of Chicago. Unpublished.
  29. ↵
    1. Kenkel Donald,
    2. Lillard Dean,
    3. Mathios Alan
    . 2006. “The Roles of High School Completion and GED Receipt in Smoking and Obesity.” Journal of Labor Economics 24(3):635–60.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  30. ↵
    1. King Miriam,
    2. Ruggles Steven,
    3. Sobek Matthew
    . 2003. “Integrated Public Use Microdata Series, Current Population Survey: Preliminary Version 0.1.” Minneapolis: Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota.
  31. ↵
    1. Lang Kevin,
    2. Zagorsky Jay L.
    2001. “Does Growing Up with a Parent Absent Really Hurt?” Journal of Human Resources 36(2):253–73.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  32. ↵
    1. Lichter Daniel T.
    2001. Marriage as Public Policy. Washington, D.C.: Progressive Policy Institute.
  33. ↵
    1. Lichter Daniel T.,
    2. Graefe Deborah Roempke
    . 2007. “Men and Marriage Promotion: Who Marries Unwed Mothers?” Social Service Review 81(3):397–421.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  34. ↵
    1. Lichter Daniel T.,
    2. Graefe Deborah Roempke,
    3. Brown J. Brian
    . 2003. “Is Marriage a Panacea? Union Formation among Economically Disadvantaged Unwed Mothers.” Social Problems 50(1):60–86.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  35. ↵
    1. Liu Shirley H.,
    2. Heiland Frank
    . 2010. “Should We Get Married? The Effect of Parents’ Marriage on Out-of-Wedlock Children.” Economic Inquiry forthcoming.
  36. ↵
    1. Lochner Lance,
    2. Moretti Enrico
    . 2004. “The Effect of Education on Crime: Evidence from Prison Inmates, Arrests, and Self-Reports.” American Economic Review 94(1):155–89.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  37. ↵
    1. Manning Wendy D.,
    2. Lichter Daniel T.
    1996. “Parental Cohabitation and Children’s Economic Well-Being.” Journal of Marriage and the Family 58(4):998–1010.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  38. ↵
    1. Manski Charles F.,
    2. Sandefur Gary D.,
    3. McLanahan Sara,
    4. Powers Daniel
    . 1992. “Alternative Estimates of the Effect of Family Structure During Adolescence on High School Graduation.” Journal of the American Statistical Association 87(417):25–37.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  39. ↵
    1. Mare Robert D.
    1991. “Five Decades of Assortative Mating.” American Sociological Review 56(1):15–32.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  40. ↵
    1. Mauer Marc
    . 1999. Race to Incarcerate. New York: New Press.
  41. ↵
    1. McLanahan Sara,
    2. Sandefur Gary D.
    1994. Growing Up with a Single Parent: What Hurts, What Helps. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.
  42. ↵
    1. Mechoulan Stéphane
    . 2010. “The External Effects of Black-Male Incarceration on Black Females.” Journal of Labor Economics forthcoming.
  43. ↵
    1. Morgan S. Philip,
    2. Rindfuss Ronald R.
    1999. “Reexamining the Link of Early Childbearing to Marriage and to Subsequent Fertility.” Demography 36(1):59–75.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  44. ↵
    1. Mumola Christopher J.
    2000. Incarcerated Parents and Their Children. Bureau of Justice Statistics, NCJ 182335.
  45. ↵
    1. Neumark David,
    2. Wascher William L.
    2003. “Minimum Wages and Skill Acquisition: Another Look at Schooling Effects.” Economics of Education Review 22(1):1–10.
    OpenUrl
  46. ↵
    1. Ooms Theodora,
    2. Bouchet Stacey,
    3. Parke Mary
    . 2004. “Beyond Marriage Licenses: Efforts in States to Strengthen Marriage and Two-Parent Families.” Center for Law and Social Policy.
  47. ↵
    1. Painter Gary,
    2. Levine David I.
    2000. “Family Structure and Youths’ Outcomes: Which Correlations are Causal?” Journal of Human Resources 35(3):524–49.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  48. ↵
    1. Pastore Ann L.,
    2. Maguire Kathleen
    , eds. 2006. Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics. http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook (accessed on September 14, 2006).
  49. ↵
    1. Pencavel John
    . 1998. “Assortative Mating by Schooling and the Work Behavior of Wives and Husbands.” American Economic Review 88(2):326–29.
    OpenUrlWeb of Science
  50. ↵
    1. Petersen William
    . 2001. “Surnames in US Population Records.” Population and Development Review 27(2):315–22.
    OpenUrl
  51. ↵
    1. Qian Zhenchao,
    2. Lichter Daniel T.,
    3. Mellott Leanna M.
    2005. “Out-of-Wedlock Childbearing, Marital Prospects, and Mate Selection.” Social Forces 84(1):473–91.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  52. ↵
    1. Raphael Steven
    . 2006. “The Socioeconomic Status of Black Males: The Increasing Importance of Incarceration.” In Poverty, the Distribution of Income, and Public Policy, ed. Auerbach Alan, Card David, Quigley John. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
  53. ↵
    1. Raphael Steven,
    2. Stoll Michael A
    . 2007. “Why Are So Many Americans in Prison?” Berkeley: University of California, Berkeley. Unpublished.
  54. ↵
    1. Rector Robert E.,
    2. Pardue Melissa G.
    2004. “Understanding the President’s Healthy Marriage Initiative.” Backgrounder 1741, The Heritage Foundation. http://www.heritage.org/Research/Family/bg1741.cfm (accessed on September 28, 2007).
  55. ↵
    1. Ribar David C.
    2004. “What Do Social Scientists Know about the Benefits of Marriage? A Review of Quantitative Methodologies.” Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) Discussion Paper 998.
  56. ↵
    1. Staiger Douglas,
    2. Stock James H.
    1997. “Instrumental Variables Regression with Weak Instruments.” Econometrica 65(3):557–86.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
  57. ↵
    1. Stock James H.,
    2. Yogo Motohiro
    . 2005. “Testing for Weak Instruments in Linear IV Regression.” In Identification and Inference for Econometric Models: Essays in Honor of Thomas Rothenberg, ed. Andrews Donald W. K., Stock James H. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.
  58. ↵
    1. Vera Hernan,
    2. Berardo Donna H.,
    3. Berardo Felix M.
    1985. “Age Heterogamy in Marriage.” Journal of Marriage and the Family 47(3):553–66.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  59. ↵
    1. Waller Maureen R.,
    2. Swisher Raymond
    . 2006. “Fathers’ Risk Factors in Fragile Families: Implications for ‘Healthy’ Relationships and Father Involvement.” Social Problems 53(3):392–420.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  60. ↵
    1. Western Bruce,
    2. McLanahan Sara
    . 2000. “Fathers Behind Bars: The Impact of Incarceration on Family Formation.” Families, Crime and Criminal Justice 2:309–24.
    OpenUrlCrossRef
  61. ↵
    1. Wolfe Barbara,
    2. Haveman Robert,
    3. Ginther Donna,
    4. An Chong Bum
    . 1996. “The ‘Window Problem’ in Studies of Children’s Attainments: A Methodological Exploration.” Journal of the American Statistical Association 91(435):970–82.
    OpenUrlCrossRefWeb of Science
  62. ↵
    1. Wooldridge Jeffrey M.
    2002. Econometric Analysis of Cross-Section and Panel Data. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 45, Issue 4
2 Oct 2010
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Ed Board (PDF)
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Human Resources.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Is Marriage Always Good for Children?
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Human Resources
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Human Resources web site.
Citation Tools
Is Marriage Always Good for Children?
Keith Finlay, David Neumark
Journal of Human Resources Oct 2010, 45 (4) 1046-1088; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.45.4.1046

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Is Marriage Always Good for Children?
Keith Finlay, David Neumark
Journal of Human Resources Oct 2010, 45 (4) 1046-1088; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.45.4.1046
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Bookmark this article

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • I. Introduction
    • II. Related literature on family structure and child outcomes
    • III. Never-married motherhood
    • IV. Empirical framework, estimation, and identification
    • V. Data and descriptive statistics
    • VI. Results
    • VII. Discussion
    • VIII. Conclusions
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Licensure Tests and Teacher Supply
  • Closing the Gap Between Vocational and General Education?
  • Crossing Borders
Show more Articles

Similar Articles

UW Press logo

© 2025 Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Powered by HighWire