Educational Expansion and Homogamy. An Analysis of the Consequences of Educational Upgrading for Assortative Mating in Switzerland

Abstract

We analyze the changing relationship between education and assortative mating over the course of educational expansion in Switzerland between 1970 and 2000. The overall rate of educationally homogamous partnerships has remained rather stable, while partnerlessness increased and became less educationally selective. An analysis taking the opportunity structure into account reveals that the inclination toward educationally homogamous partnerships is most pronounced in lower educational groups, but that the differences between educational groups decreased over time.