What does this research mean for the field?

Marriage matching in Quebec has been highly assortative since the early nineteenth century, significantly influenced by women's individual human capital and affecting child outcomes independently of fathers. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the historical trends of marriage assortativeness in Quebec and its impact on social mobility, particularly concerning women's human capital.

February 28, 2026The Journal of Economic History0 citationsOpen Access

The Her in Inheritance: How Marriage Matching Has Always Mattered, Quebec 1800–1970

MCMatthew Curtis

Key Points

To examine the historical trends of marriage assortativeness in Quebec and its impact on social mobility, particularly concerning women's human capital.
Utilized a unique database covering Quebec from 1800 to 1970.
Developed a novel method to assess assortative matching in marriages.
Analyzed the effects of maternal influence on child outcomes.
Marriage was highly assortative as early as the early nineteenth century.
Individual human capital of women significantly influenced marriage matching.
Mothers positively affected child outcomes, independent of fathers' influence.

Abstract

When did marriage become strongly assortative? I use a uniquely suitable database from Quebec 1800–1970 to provide the long-run perspective necessary to answer this question. First, I develop a novel method that reveals that marriage was highly assortative as far back as the early nineteenth century. Next, I show this matching depends on the individual human capital of women, not just on family backgrounds. Finally, I show that mothers had an effect on child outcomes independent of the fathers. Thus, despite deeply conservative gender norms, marriage matching—and women—have always mattered for social mobility.

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