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Previous research has predominantly focused on the lower male-female ratio as an explanatory factor for the lower marriage rates among black individuals relative to white individuals in the United States. In our paper, we investigate the role of economic factors as drivers of marriage formation and their potential to explain this racial gap. Specifically, we estimate the impact of minimum wage hikes on the marital racial gap between black and white individuals. Our findings suggest that following minimum wage increases, the marriage rate of young black individuals increases relative to that of white individuals. Additionally, our results indicate that in response to the minimum wage hikes, young black individuals increase their labor supply relative to whites. This relative improvement in the economic prospects of black individuals is consistent with the reduction in the marital gap estimated for this population
