Changing Marriage Markets and the Availability of Partners: Interracial Marriage, 1990-2000

Zhenchao Qian, Ohio State University
Daniel T. Lichter, Ohio State University

In the United States, interracial marriage increased rapidly in recent years but the increase was not evenly distributed from one geographical area to another. While geographical differences may indicate differences in American race relations and racial distance, the racial mix in local marriage markets affect opportunities for interracial contact. Growing concentration of minorities in metropolitan areas may promote interracial marriage as a result of more opportunities for social contact across racial boundaries, but may also discourage interracial marriage because of imbalances in the sex ratio across racial groups. Using data from the 5% Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) of the 1990 and 2000 censuses, we examine how marriage market conditions (availability of partners by race and ethnicity and educational attainment) in metropolitan areas affect changes in interracial cohabitation and marriage among whites, blacks, Latinos, Asians, and American Indians. We also examine how educational attainment and nativity play a role in interracial marriage.