New York, NY – Economist and prominent commentator Noah Smith recently sparked discussion on social media with a tweet suggesting that while "rich guys don't marry working-class women," the nation might see improvements if they did. The statement, posted on July 22, 2025, delves into the complex interplay between socioeconomic marriage patterns and their broader societal implications.
Noah Smith, known for his Substack "Noahpinion" and previous work with Bloomberg, is a former assistant professor of behavioral finance with a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Michigan. He frequently comments on economic trends, technology, and geopolitics, often engaging in provocative analyses of social phenomena through an economic lens.
The premise of Smith's tweet touches upon the concept of assortative mating, a pattern where individuals tend to choose partners with similar characteristics, including socioeconomic status, education, and income. Research indicates a notable increase in positive assortative mating over the past half-century, particularly by educational attainment, which is strongly correlated with income. This trend contributes significantly to household income inequality, as resources become more concentrated within households where both partners have high earning potential.
Studies have shown that if matching in marriages were random instead of assortative, income inequality, as measured by the Gini coefficient, would be considerably lower. For instance, some analyses suggest that assortative mating played a non-negligible role in the growth of household income inequality between 1960 and 2005. The tendency for individuals from similar educational and economic backgrounds to marry reinforces existing wealth and income disparities.
Smith's assertion that the "country would probably be better if they did" marry across class lines aligns with sociological perspectives on the benefits of increased social mixing. While cross-class marriages can present unique challenges for couples, they may foster greater understanding and bridge cultural divides between different socioeconomic groups. Such unions could, in theory, counteract the societal stratification exacerbated by assortative mating, potentially leading to a more integrated and socially mobile society.
The tweet serves as a concise, yet thought-provoking, commentary on deeply entrenched social patterns and their economic consequences. It highlights a long-standing debate among economists and sociologists about how marriage patterns influence, and are influenced by, societal inequality and mobility.