title: Match quality, new information, and marital dissolution.
abstract: "This article investigates the role of surprises in marital dissolution [in the United States]. Surprises consists of changes in the predicted earning capacity of either spouse. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 is used. We find that an unexpected increase in the husband's earning capacity reduces the divorce hazard, while an unexpected increase in the wife's earning capacity raises the divorce hazard. Couples sort into marriage according to characteristics that are likely to enhance the stability of the marriage. The divorce hazard is initially increasing with the duration of marriage, and the presence of children and high levels of property stabilizes the marriage."
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Willis
mesh_terms: D000569:Americas; D001695:Biology; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D004243:Divorce; D004467:Economics; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D007182:Income; D008393:Marriage; D009656:North America; D011153:Population; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012106:Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Americas; Biology; Data Analysis; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Divorce; Economic Factors; Factor Analysis; Income; Marriage; North America; Northern America; Nuptiality; Population; Population Dynamics; Research Methodology; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Time Factors; United States