Williams Institute

Two new studies from the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law look at the economic impacts on Massachusetts five years after that state legalized same-sex marriage.

One study, which looked at data from the American Community Survey, found that same-sex marriages had a small but positive impact on the caliber of the workforce. "This study shows that in Massachusetts marriage equality resulted in an increase of younger, female, and more highly educated and skilled individuals in same-sex couples moving to the state."

The other study, based on a survey and the crunch of state-collected tax revenue data, estimates that same-sex marriages produced a net economic benefit to the state of $100 million. 

The figure is an estimate of the financial benefit to the state's economy over the next three years. (Gay couple can marry in California beginning June 17). The study is not on the web site of UCLA's Williams Institute, but the LA Times has the story today.

One might think such a figure would have no political impact in how Californians decide a controversial social issue such as same-sex marriage. But we have a history of voting with our pocketbooks even on such issues. In 2004, for example, Californians approved a ballot initiative floating a $3 billion bond for stem cell research, despite strong federal prohibitions on such research. In other states, stem cell research was debated as an ethical issue. Here, the governor argued for the financial advantages that would accrue to California from taking a leadership role in such research. That was a winning argument. Polling shows that moral arguments made little impact.