03/29/2024

Marriage Penalties in the Modern Social-Welfare State

This analysis addresses the growing problem of marriage penalties created by the increased size and coverage of means-tested social-welfare benefits. Depending on the relationship between cohabiters (whether or not they have children in common and whether or not they share food or utility expenses) and their combined and relative earnings, getting married can result in bonuses of as much as 11 perĀ­cent of their combined income or penalties of more than about 32 percent of their combined income.

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