Sex and the City: Demographics, Spatial Sorting, and the Marriage Market

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Fang, Min; Huang, Zibin; Wang, Yushi; Yang, Yu (Alan)
• 署名单位: China Europe International Business School; State University System of Florida; University of Florida; Shanghai University of Finance & Economics; Shanghai Institute of International Finance & Economics; Hainan University; Peking University
• 刊物名称: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0020-6598
• DOI: 10.1111/iere.70090
• 发表日期: 2026
• 关键词: MIGRATION; ratios; FAMILY

摘要

We study how the interaction between demographic changes and spatial sorting affects marriage matching across space. Using data from China, we first present stylized facts on the diverging spatial distribution of singlehood characterized by a high singles rate for females (males) in more (less) developed cities. We then build a quantitative spatial equilibrium model. It reveals that more highly educated women sort into the service sector in more developed cities than men. With persistent social norms of hypergamy, this results in more failed marriage matches for females (males) in more (less) developed cities, thereby lowering the national marriage rate.