Response to Ermisch, Martin, and Wu*
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Date
2009-02
Authors
Grey, Jo Anna
Stockard, Jean
Stone, Joe A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Duke University Press
Abstract
Our recent paper in Demography (Gray, Stockard, and Stone 2006) has attracted the close
scrutiny of several prominent academics. Three sets of formal comments, authored independently by
Ermisch, Martin, and Wu (EMW), appear in this issue of Demography. In this response we argue that
the analysis and evidence of our 2006 paper have withstood the scrutiny of EMW. In particular, we nd
that a substantial part of the rising share of nonmarital births since 1970 is due to a selection effect
associated with marriage. This same selection effect also explains how birth rates could rise in both
groups, even though their combined birth rate did not. In sum, though we appreciate the opportunity to
expand on several key aspects of our 2006 article, we see no reason to substantially revise any of our
major conclusions based on the EMW comments.
Description
9 pages
Keywords
Nonmarital Birth Rates, Minorities in Parenthood, Demography