Assessing the geographic distribution of same sex and opposite sex couples across the United States: implications for claims of causality between traditional marriage and same sex unions |
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Authors: | John W Graham Jason Barr |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Economics, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA |
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Abstract: | The percent of households headed by married couples has recently fallen below 50%, while the percent of unmarried couples
(both heterosexual and homosexual) continues to rise. Nationally-representative estimates of unmarried couples which first
appeared in the 1990 and 2000 decennial Censuses are now available on an annual basis through the American Community Survey.
In this paper we use state-level panel data from 2000–2006 on the percent of households headed by married couples, same sex
couples and opposite sex unmarried couples to assess widespread claims in the popular press of causality across living arrangements.
Based on Granger causality tests we can reject claims that an increase in same sex couples has caused either a decline in
marriage or (except in one case) an increase in heterosexual cohabitation. There is mixed evidence whether or not opposite
sex couples may have Granger caused same sex couples, but stronger evidence that marriage and heterosexual cohabitation are
interrelated.
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Keywords: | Gay and lesbian households Heterosexual cohabitation Marriage |
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