Marriage Leads to Prosperity

The Washington Post reported yesterday on statistics which show that married couples have higher incomes than single people or cohabiting couples, and that children raised by married couples are less likely to live in poverty than children raised by single or cohabiting parents. This should come as no surprise. What is surprising is how the Post chose to spin this story. Instead of praising marriage as a ticket to prosperity, it seemed to lament the greed of those who wed, saying that the institution is "becoming the self-selected province of the college-educated and the affluent," a "luxury item" that is "helping to drive a well-documented increase in income inequality." When the Post says that "the marriage gap appears to be driven primarily by education and income," the cart is pulling the horse. Economic prosperity and educational advancement (especially for children) are driven by the decision to marry (before having kids) and staying married--not the other way around. The cost of the marriage license is the best investment most couples ever make.