Review of Sociology
Volume/Issue:
Volume 8: Issue 1
Who and When Marries Whom?
Author: Erzsébet Bukodi 1
View More View Less
  • 1 Central Statistical Office, Social Statistics Department Budapest, Keleti Károly u. 5-7. H-1024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/revsoc.8.2002.1.1
Page Count:
5–35
Publication Date:
01 Jun 2002
Online Publication Date:
22 Jul 2005
Article Category:
Research Article
Restricted access

In this analysis we assess the effects of different social charasteristics of individuals on their propensity for the first marriage taking into account the joint educational distribution of spouses. In line with the theoretical hypotheses and the findings of previous research, we have found a tendency for individuals with similar levels of education to marry one another. People with compulsory schooling and with university degrees are the most likely to marry homogamously. The odds of marrying people with equal or higher education are greater as individuals get older. However, the effect of the variable describing time out of school becomes smaller at the higher levels of the educational hierarchy, especially at the university level. This findings suggests the low-cost marriage market function of universities, the fact that these institutions collect students whose future socio-economic prospects re very homogeneous. Parental education has a consistent effecgt on marital behaviour. Well-educated individuals who possess higher levels of inherited educational capital appear to gain more advantage in the marriage market compared to their counterparts with less advantageous backgrounds. Among poorly educated people the lack of parental resources further decreases the likelihood of a „good match”. As for the historical trends are concerned, the likelihood of marriage with poorly educated candidates has declined the most; and in the case of better-educated potential spouses the marriage propensity has even increased, or at least has not decreased to a large extent. This tendency indicates a changing economic context for marriage. Modern long-term partnerships are based on the expectation that partners can make similarly valuable contributions to the marriage in order to maintain or increase the total wealth and success of the family.

  • Schoen. (1986): A methodological analysis of intergroup marriage. Sociological Methodology, 16: 49-78.

    'A methodological analysis of intergroup marriage. ' () 16 Sociological Methodology : 49 -78.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Schoen, R. and Weinick R. M. (1993): Partner choice in marriages and cohabitations. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55: 465-481.

    'Partner choice in marriages and cohabitations. ' () 55 Journal of Marriage and the Family : 465 -481.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Yamaguchi, K. (1991): Event History Analysis. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Event History Analysis , ().

  • Csernák, J. (1992) Házasság és család: a demográfiai változások újabb irányvonalai és ősszefüggései. [Marriage and family: Recent trends and connections in changes in demography] Demográfia, 35: 87-112.

    'Házasság és család: a demográfiai változások újabb irányvonalai és ősszefüggései. [Marriage and family: Recent trends and connections in changes in demography] ' () 35 Demográfia : 87 -112.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Berent, J. (1954): Social Mobility and Marriage: A Study of Trends in England and Wales. In Glass, D. V. (ed.): Social Mobility in Britain. London: Routledge, 321-338.

    Social Mobility in Britain , () 321 -338.

  • Blackwell, D. L. (1998): Marital homogamy in the United States: The influence of individual and paternal education. Social Science Research, 27: 159-188.

    'Marital homogamy in the United States: The influence of individual and paternal education. ' () 27 Social Science Research : 159 -188.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Blau, P M. and Duncan, O. D. (1967): The American Occupational Structure. New York: Wiley.

    The American Occupational Structure , ().

  • Blau, P. M. and Schwartz, J. E. (1984): Crosscutting Social Circles. New York: Academic Press.

    Crosscutting Social Circles , ().

  • Akers, D. S. (1967): On measuring the marriage squeeze. Demography, 4: 907-924.

    'On measuring the marriage squeeze. ' () 4 Demography : 907 -924.

  • Andorka R. (1991): A házasulók társadalmi helyzete egymáshoz viszonyítva. [Social position of couples] In: Utasi, Á. (ed.): Társas kapcsolatok. [Human relations] Budapest: Gondolat 20-39.

    Társas kapcsolatok [Human relations] , () 20 -39.

  • Andorka R., Harcsa, I. and Kulcsár, R. (1975): A társadalmi mobilitás történeti tendenciái. [Historical tendencies in social mobility] Statisztikai Időszaki Kőzlemények, No. 343: 114-126.

  • Becker, G. S. (1974): A Theory of Marriage. In Schultz, T. W. (ed.): Economics of the Family, Marriage, Children and Human Capital. Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press.

    Economics of the Family, Marriage, Children and Human Capital , ().

  • Becker, G. S. (1981): A Treatise on the Family. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

    A Treatise on the Family. , ().

  • Benham, L. (1974): Benefits of women's education within marriage. Journal of Political Economy, 82: 57-71.

    'Benefits of women's education within marriage. ' () 82 Journal of Political Economy : 57 -71.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Blossfeld, H. P., Hamerle, A. and Mayer, K. U. (1989): Event History Analysis: Statistical Theory and Applications in the Social Sciences. Hillsdale: Lawrence Earlbaum.

    Event History Analysis: Statistical Theory and Applications in the Social Sciences , ().

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Blossfeld, H-P. and Rohwer, G. (1995): Techniques of Event History Modeling. New Approaches to Causal Analysis. New Jersey: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates, Publishers Mahwah.

    Techniques of Event History Modeling. New Approaches to Causal Analysis , ().

  • Blossfeld, H-P. and Timm, A. (1997): Der Einfluss des Bildungssystems auf den Heiratsmarkt: ein langsschnittanalyse der Wahl von Heiratspartnerern im Lebenslaub. Kőlner Zeitung von Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, 49: 440-76.

    'Der Einfluss des Bildungssystems auf den Heiratsmarkt: ein langsschnittanalyse der Wahl von Heiratspartnerern im Lebenslaub. ' () 49 Kőlner Zeitung von Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie : 440 -76.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bukodi, E. (1999): Educational choices in Hungary. Hungarian Statistical Review, 71-94.

    'Educational choices in Hungary. ' () Hungarian Statistical Review : 71 -94.

  • Bukodi, E. (2001a): A házasságkötés időzítése az egyéni életútban. [Marriage in the life-course] Statisztikai Szemle, 79: 312-334.

    'A házasságkötés időzítése az egyéni életútban. [Marriage in the life-course] ' () 79 Statisztikai Szemle : 312 -334.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Csernák, J. (1997): Házasság és válaAs Magyarországon. [Marriage and divorce in Hungary] In Kovacsics, J. (ed.): Magyarország történeti demográfiája (896-1995). [Historical demography of Hungary] Budapest: KSH.

    Magyarország történeti demográfiája (896-1995) [Historical demography of Hungary] , ().

    • Search Google Scholar

  • DiMaggio, P. and Mohr, J. (1985): Cultural capital, educational attainment, and marital selection. American Journal of Sociology, 90: 1231-1258.

    'Cultural capital, educational attainment, and marital selection. ' () 90 American Journal of Sociology : 1231 -1258.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Duncan, O. D. (1968): Social Stratification and Mobility: Problems in the Measurement of Trend. In Sheldon, E. B. and Moore (eds.): Indicators of Social Change. New York: Russell Sage, 675-719.

    Indicators of Social Change , () 675 -719.

  • Hachnen, D. S. (1988): The competing risks model. A method for analyzing process with multiple types of events. Sociological Methods and Research, 17: 21-54.

    'The competing risks model. A method for analyzing process with multiple types of events. ' () 17 Sociological Methods and Research : 21 -54.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Hendrickx, J. (1994): The analysis of religious assortative mating: an application of design techniques for categorical models. Nijmegen: University of Nijmegen, PhD thesis, 312.

  • Hout, M. (1982): The association between husbands' and wives' occupations in two-earner families. American Journal of Sociology, 88: 397-409.

    'The association between husbands' and wives' occupations in two-earner families. ' () 88 American Journal of Sociology : 397 -409.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Jacobs, J. J. and Furstenberg, F. (1986): Changing places: Conjugal careers and women's marital mobility. Social Forces, 64: 714-732.

    'Changing places: Conjugal careers and women's marital mobility. ' () 64 Social Forces : 714 -732.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Jones, F. L. (1987): Marriage patterns and the stratification system: trends in educational homogamy since the 1930s. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Sociology, 23: 185-198.

    'Marriage patterns and the stratification system: trends in educational homogamy since the 1930s. ' () 23 Australian and New Zealand Journal of Sociology : 185 -198.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Kalmijn, M. (1991): Status homogamy in the United States. American Journal of Sociology, 97: 496-523.

    'Status homogamy in the United States. ' () 97 American Journal of Sociology : 496 -523.

  • Kalmijn, M. (1994): Assortative mating by cultural and economic occupational status. American Journal of Sociology, 100: 422-452.

    'Assortative mating by cultural and economic occupational status. ' () 100 American Journal of Sociology : 422 -452.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Kalmijn, M. (1998): Intermarriage and homogamy: causes, patterns, trends. Annual Review of Sociology, 24: 395-421.

    'Intermarriage and homogamy: causes, patterns, trends. ' () 24 Annual Review of Sociology : 395 -421.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Kalmijn, M. and Flap, H. (2001): Assortative meeting and mating: Unintended consequence of organized settings for partner choices. Social Forces, 79: 1289-1312.

    'Assortative meeting and mating: Unintended consequence of organized settings for partner choices. ' () 79 Social Forces : 1289 -1312.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Kulcsár R. (1978): A házasság mint a társadalmi átrétegződés egyik "csatornája". [Marriage as a "chanel" of social reproduction] Statisztikai Szemle, 56: 516-631.

    'A házasság mint a társadalmi átrétegződés egyik "csatornája". [Marriage as a "chanel" of social reproduction] ' () 56 Statisztikai Szemle : 516 -631.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Lewis, S. K. and Oppenheimer, V. K. (2000): Educational assortative mating across marriage markets: non-hispanic whites in the United States. Demography, 37: 29-40.

    'Educational assortative mating across marriage markets: non-hispanic whites in the United States. ' () 37 Demography : 29 -40.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Lipset, S. M. and Bendix, R. (1959): Social Mobility in Industrial Society. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Social Mobility in Industrial Society , ().

  • Mare, R. (1980): Social background and school continuation decisions. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 75: 295-305.

    'Social background and school continuation decisions. ' () 75 Journal of the American Statistical Association : 295 -305.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Mare, R. (1981): Change and stability in educational stratification. American Sociological Review, 46: 72-87.

    'Change and stability in educational stratification. ' () 46 American Sociological Review : 72 -87.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Mare, R. (1991): Five decades of educational assortative mating. American Sociological Review, 56: 15-32.

    'Five decades of educational assortative mating. ' () 56 American Sociological Review : 15 -32.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Merton, R. K. (1976) [1944]: Intermarriage and the Social Structure. In Merton, R. K.: Sociological Ambivalence and Other Essays. New York: The Free Press, 217-250.

    Sociological Ambivalence and Other Essays , () 217 -250.

  • Mincer, J. (1974): Schooling, Experience, and Earnings. New York: National Bureau of Economic Research.

    Schooling, Experience, and Earnings , ().

  • Okun, B. (2001): The effects of ethnicity and educational attainment on Jewish marriage patterns: Changes in Israel, 1957-1995. Population Studies, 55: 49-64.

    'The effects of ethnicity and educational attainment on Jewish marriage patterns: Changes in Israel, 1957-1995. ' () 55 Population Studies : 49 -64.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Oppenheimer, V. K. (1988): A theory of marriage timing. American Journal of Sociology, 94: 563-591.

    'A theory of marriage timing. ' () 94 American Journal of Sociology : 563 -591.

  • Oppenheimer, V. K. (1994): Women's rising employment and the future of the family in industrial societies. Population and Development Review, 20: 293-342.

    'Women's rising employment and the future of the family in industrial societies. ' () 20 Population and Development Review : 293 -342.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Oppenheimer, V. K., Kalmijn, M. and Lim, N. (1997): Men's career development and marriage timing during a period of rising inequality. Demography, 34: 311-330.

    'Men's career development and marriage timing during a period of rising inequality. ' () 34 Demography : 311 -330.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Qian, Z. (1998): Changes in assortative mating: The impact of age and education, 1970-1990. Demography, 35: 279-292.

    'Changes in assortative mating: The impact of age and education, 1970-1990. ' () 35 Demography : 279 -292.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Róbert, P. (1991): Educational transition in Hungary from the post-war period to the end of the 1980s. European Sociological Review, 7: 213-36.

    'Educational transition in Hungary from the post-war period to the end of the 1980s. ' () 7 European Sociological Review : 213 -36.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Róbert, P. and Blossfeld, H. P. (1995): Hungary. In Blossfeld, H. P. (ed.): The New Role of Women. Family Formation in Modern Societies. Boulder: Westview Press.

    The New Role of Women. Family Formation in Modern Societies , ().

  • Róbert, P., Bukodi, E. and Luijkx, R. (2001): Employment Patterns in Hungarian Couples. Chapter 13. In Blossfeld, H. -P. and Drobnic, S. (eds.): Careers of Couples in Contemporary Societies. A Cross-National Comparison of the Transition from Male Breadwinner to Dual Earner Families. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Careers of Couples in Contemporary Societies. A Cross-National Comparison of the Transition from Male Breadwinner to Dual Earner Families , ().

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Róbert, P. and Bukodi, E. (2002): Dual career pathways: The occupational attainment of married couples in Hungary. European Sociological Review, 18 (2).

    'Dual career pathways: The occupational attainment of married couples in Hungary. ' () 18 European Sociological Review .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Schoen, R. (1983): Measuring the tightness of a marriage squeeze. Demography, 20: 61-78.

    'Measuring the tightness of a marriage squeeze. ' () 20 Demography : 61 -78.

  • Smits, J., Ultee, W. and Lammers, J. (1998): Educational homogamy in 65 countries: An explanation of differences in openness using country-level explanatory variables. American Sociological Review, 63: 264-285.

    'Educational homogamy in 65 countries: An explanation of differences in openness using country-level explanatory variables. ' () 63 American Sociological Review : 264 -285.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Sorokin, P. (1927): Social and Cultural Mobility. New York: Free Press.

    Social and Cultural Mobility , ().

  • Szél, T. (1933): A vegyes házassaAg. [Intermarriage] Magyar Statisztikai Szemle, 10: 706-718.

    'A vegyes házassaAg. [Intermarriage] ' () 10 Magyar Statisztikai Szemle : 706 -718.

  • Thirring, G. (1898): Budapest Székes Fővaros Statisztikai Évkőnyve, 1895 és 1896. [Statistical Yearbook of Budapest, 1896, 1896 ] Budapest Székes Főváros Statisztikai Hivatala, 425.

    Budapest Székes Fővaros Statisztikai Évkőnyve, 1895 és 1896 , ().

  • Tuma, N. B. and Hannan, M. T. (1984): Social Dynamics, Models and Methods. Orlando, Florida: Academic Press, Inc.

    Social Dynamics, Models and Methods , ().

  • Ultee, W. C. and Luijkx, R. (1990): Educational heterogamy and father-to-son occupational mobility in 23 industrial nations. European Sociological Review, 6: 125-149.

    'Educational heterogamy and father-to-son occupational mobility in 23 industrial nations. ' () 6 European Sociological Review : 125 -149.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Uunk, W. J. G. (1996): Who marries whom? The role of social origin, education and high culture in mate selection of industrial societies during the twentieth century. Nijmegen: University of Nijmegen, dissertation.

  • Uunk, W. J. G., Ganzeboom, H. B. G. and Róbert, P. (1996): Bivariate and multivariate scaled association models. An application to homogamy of social origin and education in Hungary between 1930 and 1979. Quality and Quantity, 30: 323-343.

    'Bivariate and multivariate scaled association models. An application to homogamy of social origin and education in Hungary between 1930 and 1979. ' () 30 Quality and Quantity : 323 -343.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Vukovich, Gy. (1962): A három alapvető társadalmi réteg házassági mobilitása. [Social mobility of the three classes] Demográfia, 5: 288-314.

    'A három alapvető társadalmi réteg házassági mobilitása. [Social mobility of the three classes] ' () 5 Demográfia : 288 -314.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Winship, C. (1986): Heterogeneity and interdependence: A test using survival models. Sociological Methodology, 16: 250-282.

    'Heterogeneity and interdependence: A test using survival models. ' () 16 Sociological Methodology : 250 -282.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Cseh-Szombathy L. (1979): Családszociológiai problémák és mődszerek. [Problems and methods in the sociology of family] Budapest: Gondolat.

    Családszociológiai problémák és mődszerek [Problems and methods in the sociology of family] , ().

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bukodi, E. (2001b): Ki kivel házasodik? A házassági homogámia időbeli változása. [Who marries whom? The historical changes in marriage homogamy] Statisztikai Szemle, 79: 142-161.

    'Ki kivel házasodik? A házassági homogámia időbeli változása. [Who marries whom? The historical changes in marriage homogamy] ' () 79 Statisztikai Szemle : 142 -161.

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Bukodi, E. (2002): Házasság -- élettársi kapcsolat -- válás: társadalmi meghatározottságok. [Marriage -- cohabitation -- divorce: social determinants] Budapest: KSH.

  • Coleman, J. S. (1988): Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94: S95--S120.

    'Social capital in the creation of human capital. ' () 94 American Journal of Sociology .

    • Search Google Scholar

  • Harcsa, I. and Kulcsár, R. (1986): Társadalmi mobilitás és presztízs. [Social mobility and prestige] Budapest: KSH.

    Társadalmi mobilitás és presztízs [Social mobility and prestige] , ().

  • Allison, P. D. (1982): Discrete-time methods for the analysis of event-histories. Sociological Methodology, 12: 64-98.

    'Discrete-time methods for the analysis of event-histories. ' () 12 Sociological Methodology : 64 -98.

    • Search Google Scholar
Cover Review of Sociology
Review of Sociology
Print ISSN:
1417-8648
Online ISSN:
1588-2845
Keywords:
marriage; marriage; homogamy; heterogamy

Monthly Content Usage

Abstract Views Full Text Views PDF Downloads
Sep 2020 3 0 0
Oct 2020 0 0 0
Nov 2020 0 24 7
Dec 2020 0 0 0
Jan 2021 0 0 0
Feb 2021 0 0 0
Mar 2021 1 0 0