Men of all ages earn more than women of the same age do. But data just published by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows, intriguingly, that unmarried men earn about the same as women, married or unmarried, at all ages.
That means the entire wage advantage enjoyed by men is explained by a large advantage for married men, particularly those from ages 35 to 62.
So, what is going on?
Maybe it’s old prejudices, and bosses reward “breadwinners” with higher pay. Maybe it’s class sorting, as college-educated men are more likely to get married and they earn more. Maybe it’s that the same skills that earn a man more money also earn him a wife, while for women, the traits of marriageability and profitability are separated.
Maybe family men need to earn more and so are motivated to do so, which would make the wage gap a matter of incentives. Then, there’s the “ecological” explanation that strong communities yield more intact families and more reliable jobs.
Finally, perhaps there is truth in the old adage that to have career success, a man needs a good woman behind him.
