RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Making Big Decisions: The Impact of Moves on Marriage among U.S. Army Personnel
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0919-10429R1
DO 10.3368/jhr.59.1.0919-10429R1
A1 Susan Payne Carter
A1 Abigail Wozniak
YR 2021
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2021/05/04/jhr.59.1.0919-10429R1.abstract
AB We use exogenously determined, long-distance relocations of U.S. Army soldiers to investigate the impact of moving on marriage. In an event study analysis, we find that marriage rates increase sharply around the time of a move. Reduced form exposure analysis reveals that an additional move over a five year period increases the likelihood of marriage by 14 percent, a magnitude similar to those in observational data on civilians. Moves increase childbearing by a similar magnitude, suggesting that marriages induced by a move are formed with long-term intentions. We explore implications of our findings for theories of marriage related to search, bargaining, and decision-making costs.