Wealth

Married people are more productive,
earn more and save more

Married men earn a "wage premium" that rises from 10% to 40% over time in almost all developed countries. This gain equates to a university degree (Schoeni, 1995)

Cohabiting couples achieve only half this wage premium and it does not rise over time. (Daniel, 1995; Hao, 1996).

A US study found that married people in their 50s and 60s had roughly twice the financial assets of divorcees, widows or other unmarried people. This was due more to higher savings rates than higher earnings (Smith, 1995).