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Research ArticleArticles

Dating Preferences and Meeting Opportunities in Mate Choice Decisions

Michèle Belot and Marco Francesconi
Journal of Human Resources, March 2013, 48 (2) 474-508; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.48.2.474
Michèle Belot
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Marco Francesconi
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Abstract

Much empirical evidence shows that female and male partners look alike along a variety of attributes. It is, however, unclear how this positive sorting comes about because marriage is an equilibrium outcome arising from a process that entails searching, meeting, and choosing one another. This study takes advantage of unique data to shed light on the forces driving choices at the earliest stage of a relationship. Both women and men value physical attributes, such as age and weight, and reveal that their dating choices are assortative along several traits. Importantly, meeting opportunities have a substantial role in determining dating proposals.

  • Received May 2011.
  • Accepted June 2012.
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Journal of Human Resources: 48 (2)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 48, Issue 2
31 Mar 2013
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Dating Preferences and Meeting Opportunities in Mate Choice Decisions
Michèle Belot, Marco Francesconi
Journal of Human Resources Mar 2013, 48 (2) 474-508; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.48.2.474

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Dating Preferences and Meeting Opportunities in Mate Choice Decisions
Michèle Belot, Marco Francesconi
Journal of Human Resources Mar 2013, 48 (2) 474-508; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.48.2.474
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • I. Introduction
    • II. Related Literature
    • III. Data and Selection Issues
    • IV. Individual Dating Proposals
    • V. Aggregate Pattern of Dating Proposals
    • VI. From Proposals to Matches
    • VII. Discussion
    • VIII. Conclusion
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
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  • References
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