Date of Award

5-21-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Economics

First Advisor

Rodrigo Schneider

Abstract

This paper investigates whether or not there is a differential effect of marriage on the career path of men and women. Using the 2010 US census, I analyze the relationship between gender, marital status, salary, age and education levels. As the background of this paper suggests, women are less likely to make career advancements past their husband and are more likely to prioritize his career goals. Due to these reasons, women would not receive the same benefit to there career from marriage that men do. Through the regressions of this study I was able to determine that on average, married women make $25,300 less per year than married men. This large difference in salary of married people suggests that men are receiving a greater social benefit from marriage than women are. This paper suggests ways to fix this differentiation through creating a tax policy that no longer punishes married couples with similar salaries as well as future studies that could be done to support this work.

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