PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Scott Hankins AU - Mark Hoekstra TI - Lucky in Life, Unlucky in Love? AID - 10.3368/jhr.46.2.403 DP - 2011 Mar 31 TA - Journal of Human Resources PG - 403--426 VI - 46 IP - 2 4099 - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/46/2/403.short 4100 - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/46/2/403.full SO - J Hum Resour2011 Mar 31; 46 AB - Economists have long been interested in the extent to which economic resources affect decisions to marry and divorce. However, this issue has been difficult to address empirically due to a lack of exogenous income shocks. We overcome this problem by exploiting the randomness of the Florida Lottery and comparing recipients of large prizes to those of small prizes. Results indicate that while positive income shocks of $25,000 to $50,000 do not cause statistically significant or economically meaningful changes in divorce rates, single women are less likely to marry as a result of the additional income.