A new study by the Munich economic institute Ifo and the University of Oslo found that women's incomes drop by an average of 20 percent after marriage, primarily due to reduced working hours or complete resignation from professional work, as reported by Die Zeit. This effect occurs independently of childbirth.
"A quarter of the income reduction among wives is due to the income splitting for spouses," said researcher Elena Herold. The study, based on pension insurance data, showed that the income gap between men and women increases after marriage, regardless of whether they have children.
Although men's earnings remain unchanged after marriage, women's incomes continue to decline over the years. About one in ten women stop working altogether, with many citing traditional gender roles as a factor in this decision.
According to Die Welt, the decline in women's income is not due to lower wages but rather a reduction in work hours, often influenced by traditional gender roles. "Gender roles play an important role in the decision to reduce working hours and contribute to the income decline of married women," explained Herold.
"For couples who had already lived together before the wedding, we see no different effects than for those who only move in together with the wedding," Herold said. The study found that the moment of cohabitation, whether before or after marriage, does not alter this trend.
"Among women who grew up in East Germany before reunification, we see fewer negative effects than among women from West Germany," Herold stated. This difference is attributed to employment norms; in the former GDR (East Germany), women's employment was more common than in the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), where the traditional breadwinner model dominated. These differences continue to have effects today.
The structure of the tax system in Germany is a key reason for the reduction in women's working hours after marriage. The tax system leads to a situation where a higher income becomes less worthwhile for the partner with the lower earnings, often the woman. "One reason for the reduction in working hours is false incentives in the tax system," pointed out Herold.
Under the income splitting for spouses, both partners' incomes are taxed jointly, which benefits couples with large income differences.
The study did not find similar changes in working hours or household work among men after marriage. Meanwhile, household responsibilities performed by women increase by about 20 percent after marriage, excluding child-rearing. When childbirth is included, the decline in women's earnings reaches nearly 50 percent, highlighting the impact of family responsibilities on their income.
The decline in women's income after marriage is not limited to Germany. According to Die Welt, in countries like the Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, and Greece, the rates of women stopping work after marriage are higher. "But if you look at how many women completely stop working in the years after marriage, Germany is about in the European midfield," said Herold.
These changes in working hours occur gradually over several years. Even after a divorce, the income differences continue to exist. The study concluded that there are no relevant changes in women's hourly earnings as a result of marriage; instead, the income decline is due to reduced working hours.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.