Economically, who benefits more from your marriage, you or him?
A new report from the Pew Research Center shows major shifts in the economics of marriage over the past forty years. In the past, a much higher percentage of women had less education than their husbands and tended to stay out of the work force after marriage. Now, women make up 53.5 percent of college graduates and make up 47.4 percent of employed people in the U.S. For married couples, the woman earns more than her husband in 22 percent of households, compared to just 4 percent in 1970. And when it comes to education, 28 percent of wives have more education than their husband compared to 20 percent in 1970 (spouses with the same level of education remain relatively unchanged rising just 1 percent to 53 percent in the last forty years). So what do all these numbers mean in terms of the benefits of marriage? Well, forty years ago when men married they didn’t see an increase in their household earning power as they tended to be the main financial provider for their family. Now, when a man marries his household gains substantial earning power over his unmarried counterparts, giving men an added economic incentive to marry.
Have you found these trends to be true in your marriage? Who do you feel has benefited more economically, you or him?
Originally published on truuconfessions.com
