@article {Watson482, author = {Tara Watson and Sara McLanahan}, title = {Marriage Meets the Joneses}, volume = {46}, number = {3}, pages = {482--517}, year = {2011}, doi = {10.3368/jhr.46.3.482}, publisher = {University of Wisconsin Press}, abstract = {This paper investigates the effect of relative income on marriage. Accounting flexibly for absolute income, the ratio between a man{\textquoteright}s income and a local reference group median is a strong predictor of marital status, but only for low-income men. Relative income affects marriage even among those living with a partner. A 10 percent higher reference group income is associated with a 2 percent reduction in marriage. We propose an identity model to explain the results.}, issn = {0022-166X}, URL = {https://jhr.uwpress.org/content/46/3/482}, eprint = {https://jhr.uwpress.org/content/46/3/482.full.pdf}, journal = {Journal of Human Resources} }