Research tracking men in Sweden between 1947 and 2022 has explored the phenomenon of a 'marriage premium', where married men tend to earn more than their unmarried counterparts. The study found that this earnings gap is predominantly explained by selection, meaning men who are already likely to earn more are also more likely to marry.
Since 1990, Swedish married men have earned about 11 per cent more than single men. However, the research indicates that these men increasingly had higher earnings before their wedding day. While a causal marriage premium was more evident in 1970, it has since fallen, potentially as men began taking on more household responsibilities.
Historically, the largest premium went to lower-earning men, but since 1990, it has shifted to those at the top of the earnings scale.