No Mercy / No Malice: Marrying Up and Marrying Down

Episode Release Date: March 1, 2025
Podcast: The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway
Host: Scott Galloway
Featured Guest: Richard Reeves
Read by: George Hahn

Introduction

In the episode titled "Marrying Up and Marrying Down," Scott Galloway delves into the intricate dynamics of marriage trends influenced by educational attainment and economic factors. Featuring an insightful analysis by Richard Reeves, the discussion explores how shifts in gender education gaps are reshaping marital patterns and the broader socioeconomic implications of these changes.

Gender Gap in Higher Education

Richard Reeves begins by highlighting a significant transformation in higher education demographics:

“A dramatic reversal has taken place on college campuses. Once male dominated, they are now populated largely by women. In the early 1970s, about three in five students were men. Now it is the other way around.”
(01:56)

He notes that there are currently 2.5 million fewer male than female undergraduates, with an even more pronounced gender gap in master's degree programs. While the educational advancement of women is widely celebrated, Reeves raises concerns about the systemic failures affecting male students.

“This highlights how the K12 educational system fails boys. Too much male talent is being left on the table.”
(03:15)

Reeves is actively involved in addressing this issue through initiatives like the Higher Education Male Achievement Collaborative, aiming to bridge the educational divide and support male students in completing their degrees.

Marriage Rates and Female Hypergamy

The discussion shifts to the relationship between educational attainment and marriage rates. Reeves addresses the concern that a surplus of college-educated women might lead to declining marriage rates due to female hypergamy—the tendency of women to marry men of equal or higher status.

“The fear is that with so many more college educated women than men, marriage rates will plummet. I've always been skeptical of this argument.”
(05:10)

Contrary to this fear, Reeves presents findings that marriage rates among college-educated women have remained stable at around 70% for decades. He attributes this stability to a willingness among one-fifth of these women to marry men without a four-year degree, challenging the notion that educational imbalance directly hampers marriage prospects.

Findings from Empirical Studies

Reeves references a study commissioned by him, involving researchers Clara Chambers, Benjamin Goldman, and Joseph Winkelmann from Opportunity Insights led by Raj Chetty. The study uncovers that:

• Marriage rates for college-educated women have remained steady, unlike the declining rates among women without a bachelor's degree.
• One in five college-educated women marry men without a four-year degree, a trend consistent since the 1950s.

“The simple math here means that some women with college degrees must be marrying men without college degrees. That is exactly what the paper finds.”
(07:05)

Furthermore, men who marry up educationally tend to have higher earnings:

“Guys who married up make $68,000 a year, compared to the $46,000 earned by men who either married a woman without a degree or didn't marry at all.”
(09:30)

This earnings premium has grown over time, indicating that economic viability remains a crucial factor in marriage decisions, even if educational parity does not strictly dictate marital outcomes.

Economic Impacts and Societal Consequences

Reeves elaborates on the downward spiral affecting men without college degrees:

• Declining economic prospects lead to lower marriage rates.
• Unmarried men often face increased unemployment, addiction, and social isolation.
• This cycle perpetuates economic struggles across generations.

“The economic struggles of boys and men become entrenched across generations. The class gap in marriage is not only a consequence of economic inequality but also a cause of it.”
(10:45)

He emphasizes that the class gap in marriage contributes to the decline in social mobility and suggests that addressing marital disparities requires focusing on improving the economic opportunities for working-class and lower-income men.

Policy Recommendations

Reeves advocates for massive investments in education and training, alongside infrastructure spending and place-based policies targeting the poorest regions. He underscores that:

“The best pro-marriage anti-poverty strategy is to improve the economic prospects of working-class and lower-income men.”
(12:00)

By enhancing the economic stability of men without higher education, policymakers can mitigate the adverse effects on marriage rates and, consequently, on broader economic inequality.

Conclusion

Scott Galloway wraps up the discussion by acknowledging the complexity of the issues surrounding marriage dynamics and economic factors. The episode underscores the importance of addressing educational and economic disparities to foster a more equitable and stable society.

“Life is so rich.”
(11:18)

Notable Quotes

• “This highlights how the K12 educational system fails boys. Too much male talent is being left on the table.”
  — Richard Reeves (03:15)

• “The fear is that with so many more college educated women than men, marriage rates will plummet. I've always been skeptical of this argument.”
  — Richard Reeves (05:10)

• “Guys who married up make $68,000 a year, compared to the $46,000 earned by men who either married a woman without a degree or didn't marry at all.”
  — Richard Reeves (09:30)

• “The economic struggles of boys and men become entrenched across generations. The class gap in marriage is not only a consequence of economic inequality but also a cause of it.”
  — Richard Reeves (10:45)

• “The best pro-marriage anti-poverty strategy is to improve the economic prospects of working-class and lower-income men.”
  — Richard Reeves (12:00)

Final Thoughts

This episode of "No Mercy / No Malice" provides a compelling examination of how educational and economic trends are interwoven with personal relationships and societal structures. By addressing the root causes of educational disparities and their ripple effects on marriage and economic stability, Scott Galloway and Richard Reeves offer a nuanced perspective on fostering a more balanced and equitable future.