Online dating has undoubtedly revolutionized the way people find love and companionship in the modern world. However, recent research suggests that this shift towards online matchmaking may also be impacting income inequality in the United States.
A study conducted by researchers at the Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and St. Louis, as well as Haverford College, found that the rise of dating apps, allowing individuals to search for partners based on specific criteria such as education, has led to an increase in income inequality among households. The researchers noted that Americans are increasingly marrying partners who are more similar to themselves, accounting for about half of the rise in income inequality between 1980 and 2020.
Data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey indicated that women have become more selective in terms of age, while men have become more selective in terms of education. The researchers also found that people in recent years are more likely to marry partners with similar wage and education levels, leading to households with partners in similar income brackets.
This trend towards marrying individuals with similar income levels has led to a decrease in households with one low-income earner and one high-income earner. The researchers concluded that the increase in income inequality over the past fifty years can be attributed in part to the sorting of individuals based on income, skill, and education.
While online dating has undoubtedly transformed the way people connect and form relationships, it is important to consider the broader societal implications of these changes. As more people turn to online platforms to find partners who match their specific criteria, the impact on income inequality is becoming increasingly evident.