Household Wealth, Wealth Inequality, and Entry into First Marriage in China

Beibei Sun , Xi'an Jiaotong University
Xiaoyi JIn, Xi'an Jiaotong University
lei Che, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology

Abstract: Drawing on nationally representative panel data from the China Family Panel Studies (2010–2022) and discrete-time hazard models, this study investigates how household wealth and wealth inequality shape first marriage entry in China. Results show that household wealth strongly promotes marriage entry, with the most pronounced effects among rural men in the central and western regions, reflecting intensified marriage squeeze under high inequality. Housing wealth is the strongest component predictor, underscoring the centrality of homeownership in China’s marriage market. By contrast, provincial wealth inequality significantly reduces the likelihood of first marriage. Robustness checks using alternative specifications yield consistent results. Overall, household wealth is a decisive resource for marital entry, whereas rising inequality raises barriers to family formation and reinforces structural disadvantage in China’s evolving marriage market.

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 Presented in Session P3. Families, Fertility, and the Life Course 3