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This thesis examines the labor force participation decisions of married couples , and special attention is paid to a spouse’s health conditions affecting their own and the spouse’s labor force participation decision . I used the Health and Retirement Study survey data and estimated a seemingly unrelated bivariate probit model . A number of variables besides health condition were added : age , education level , and family unearned income . The results of this research paper support the findings from the relevant literature that the labor supply decisions of the husband and wife are related . The oldest age group is least likely to work . The younger the husband , the more likely it is that the husband will work . At the ages between 40 and 49 , wives have the biggest probability to work . The higher the education level , the more likely it is that a spouse is going to work . The more total family unearned income , the less probable the spouse will go to work . Poor health has a negative effect on labor force participation and a positive effect for the spouse’s labor force participation . |
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