RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Marriage Meets the Joneses JF Journal of Human Resources JO J Hum Resour FD University of Wisconsin Press SP 482 OP 517 DO 10.3368/jhr.46.3.482 VO 46 IS 3 A1 Watson, Tara A1 McLanahan, Sara YR 2011 UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/46/3/482.abstract AB This paper investigates the effect of relative income on marriage. Accounting flexibly for absolute income, the ratio between a man’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.