%0 Journal Article %A Prashant Bharadwaj %T Impact of Changes in Marriage Law %B Implications for Fertility and School Enrollment %D 2015 %R 10.3368/jhr.50.3.614 %J Journal of Human Resources %P 614-654 %V 50 %N 3 %X Does the postponement of marriage affect fertility and investment in human capital? I study this question in the context of a 1957 amendment to the Mississippi marriage law that was aimed at delaying the age of marriage; changes included raising the minimum age for men and women, parental consent requirements, compulsory blood tests, and proof of age. Using a difference-in-differences design at the county level, I find that, overall, marriages per 1,000 in the population in Mississippi and its neighboring counties decreased by nearly 75 percent; the crude birth rate decreased between 2 and 6 percent; and school enrollment increased by 3 percent after the law was enacted (by 1960). An unintended consequence of the law change was that illegitimate births among young black mothers increased by 7 percent. I show that changes in labor market conditions during this period cannot explain the changes in marriages, births, and enrollment. I conclude that stricter marriage-related regulations that lead to a delay in marriage can postpone fertility and increase school enrollment. %U https://jhr.uwpress.org/content/wpjhr/50/3/614.full.pdf