The Effect of Marriage Equality and Domestic Partnership on Business and the Economy

Publication Date: October 2006

Publisher:

Author(s): M.V. Lee Badgett; Gary J Gates

Research Area: Economics; Labor

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

As public discussion of the issue of marriage equality for same-sex couples continues in many parts of the United States, policymakers have asked about the larger economic impact of recognizing same-sex couples. This brief outlines the potential benefits and costs to businesses if states grant marriage rights or domestic partner/civil union status to same-sex couples. We assume that those state policies would require employers to treat same-sex spouses or partners of employees in the same way that different-sex spouses are treated.