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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Roberto Bonilla Trejos, Dr Francis Kiraly, Professor John WildmanORCiD
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc., 2019.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
We propose a theoretical explanation for the so-called "beauty premium". Our explanation is based entirely on search frictions and the fact that physical appearance plays an important role in attracting a marriage partner. We analyse the interaction between frictional labour and marriage markets and establish the existence of a search equilibrium characterised by male wage differentials. The equilibrium may also display the "marriage premium", predicted to be lower among attractive men. The link between beauty premium and marriage premium provides a falsification test of the model. We carry out the empirical analysis and conclude that we cannot refute the theory.
Author(s): Bonilla R, Kiraly F, Wildman J
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Economic Review
Year: 2019
Volume: 60
Issue: 2
Pages: 851-877
Print publication date: 01/05/2019
Online publication date: 21/09/2018
Acceptance date: 06/08/2018
Date deposited: 23/01/2015
ISSN (print): 0020-6598
ISSN (electronic): 1468-2354
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/iere.12370
DOI: 10.1111/iere.12370
Notes: The paper is available in the NUBS Discussion Paper Series.
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