New Economics of Marriage --The rise of the wives

A larger share of men in 2007, as compared to 1970, are married to women whose education and income exceed their own, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of demographic and economic trend data. A larger share of women are married to men with less education and income.

From an economic perspective this is a role reversal from the past. A generation ago, when relatively few wives worked, marriage enhanced the economic status of women more than that of men. Most men got married assuming little or no help financially in supporting their families.

In recent decades, however, the economic gains associated with marriage have been greater for men than for women. It looks like women have become "the sugar mommies."