COHABITATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN LATIN AMERICA AND DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

• Published in: International journal of sociology of the family Vol. 40; no. 2; pp. 153 - 173
• Main Author: COVRE-SUSSAI, MAIRA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serials Publications 01-10-2014
• Subjects: Cohabitation; Developed countries; Economic Development; Europe; Females; Gender inequality; Gini index; Industrial Societies; Latin America; Marriage; Sex; Social classes; Social Inequality; Socioeconomic development; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomics; Womens education
• ISSN: 0020-7667; 0973-2039; 0020-7667

This study investigates macro-level associations of cohabitation in Latin America and developed countries. Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS), European Social Survey (ESS) and the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) data are used to compare the socioeconomic context of cohabitation practiced by women from different social backgrounds in up to 33 countries. The proportion of women, aged 25-29, from different education groups, and in a cohabitation relationship are compared to national-level socioeconomic indicators (i.e. human development, social and gender inequality) of women with similar profiles. Results demonstrate that, while cohabitation by higher educated women is correlated to positive socioeconomic contexts, cohabitation by lower educated women is related to lower socioeconomic development and higher social and gender inequalities.