about us

programs

publications

reading room

press

support us

contact us

home

Publications

Williams Institute Policy Studies on the Economic Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples

 

The Impact of Extending Marriage to Non-Resident Same-Sex Couples on the Massachusetts Budget
By M. V. Lee Badgett and R. Bradley Sears
June 2008


This memo explores how the economic benefits of allowing same-sex couples to marry are limited by the current policy of forbidding out-of-state same-sex couples to marry in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Using information from Massachusetts as well as data on tourist spending and wedding spending compiled from industry sources, we find that this policy reduces spending for Massachusetts. The analysis suggests that allowing non-resident same-sex couples to marry by August 1, 2008, would boost the Massachusetts economy by a total of $111 million over a three year period, or $37 million each year; increase Massachusetts state and local revenues by over $5.1 million over a three year period, or $1.75 million per year; and create and sustain approximately 330 new jobs in the state for the next three years.

 

The Impact of Extending Marriage to Non-Resident Same-Sex Couples on the Massachusetts Budget

The Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the New Jersey Budget

By Brad Sears and M.V. Lee Badgett
June 2008

 

This analysis estimates the impact of allowing same-sex couples to marry on New Jersey's state budget. Using the best data available, we estimate that allowing same-sex couples to marry will result in approximately $19 million in State and local government revenues over the next three years.  The weddings of same-sex couples will generate new economic activity for the state’s businesses and over the next three years, the direct spending from same-sex couples on weddings and tourism could generate over $248 million in direct spending over the next three years.

 

The Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the New Jersey Budget

The Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the California Budget
By Brad Sears and M.V. Lee Badgett
June 2008

This analysis estimates the impact of the California Supreme Court’s recent decision to extend marriage to same-sex couples on state and local government revenues in California.  Using the best data available, we estimate that allowing same-sex couples to marry will result in approximately $63.8 million in revenue for the state of California over the next three years.  The weddings of same-sex couples will generate new economic activity for the state’s businesses and over the next three years, the direct spending from same-sex couples on weddings and tourism will generate over $63.8 million in revenue for state and local governments.


The Impact of Extending Marriage to Same-Sex Couples on the California Budget

The Impact on Iowa's Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry
By M.V. Lee Badgett, Amanda K. Baumle, Adam P. Romero and Brad Sears
April 2008


This analysis estimates the impact of allowing same-sex couples to marry on Iowa’s state budget. Using the best data available and following the methodology of some of our previous reports in this area, we estimate that allowing same-sex couples to marry will result in a net gain of approximately $5.3 million each year for the State. This net impact will be the result of savings in expenditures on state means-tested public benefit programs and an increase in state income and sales tax revenue.

The Impact on Iowa's Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry

The Impact on Oregon's Budget of Introducing Same-Sex Domestic Partnerships
By M.V. Lee Badgett, R. Bradley Sears, Elizabeth Kukura, and Holning Lau
February 2008

This analysis by UCLA’s Williams Institute estimates the impact on Oregon’s state budget of same-sex domestic partnerships. Using the best data available, we estimate that allowing same-sex couples to enter domestic partnerships will result in a net gain of approximately $1.5 million to $3.7 million to the State’s biennial budget. This net impact will be the result of savings in expenditures on state means-tested public benefit programs and an increase in state income tax revenue.

The Impact on Oregon's Budget of Introducing Same-Sex Domestic Partnerships

Implications of HB 9 for Businesses in New Mexico
By M.V. Lee Badgett
January 2008

In this memo, Williams Institute Research Director Lee Badgett explores the economic implications of New Mexico's HB9 for businesses. Her findings suggest that  businesses reap some financial benefits of treating employees with domestic partners equally and that the costs incurred by businesses are quite small.

Implications of HB 9 for Businesses in New Mexico

Unequal Taxes on Equal Benefits: The Taxation of Domestic Partner Benefits
By M.V. Lee Badgett
December 2007

Employer-provided health insurance is the backbone of health coverage for American families. Most people who have health insurance get it through their own employer or a family member’s employer. Public policy encourages employers to provide health insurance by exempting that form of compensation from taxation. As a result, married workers who get family health insurance benefits get a double benefit—they get health insurance coverage for their spouses and children and are not taxed on the value of that coverage. In sharp contrast, workers who have an unmarried domestic partner are doubly burdened: Their employers typically do not provide coverage for domestic partners; and even when partners are covered, the partner’s coverage is taxed as income to the employee. As a result, the taxation of domestic partner health care benefits sets up a two-tiered tax policy that costs many American families and their employers millions of dollars each year. This report estimates the financial impact of this extra tax on employees and employers.

Unequal Taxes on Equal Benefits: The Taxation of Domestic Partner Benefits

The Impact on Maryland's Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry
By M.V. Lee Badgett, Amanda Baumle, Shawn Kravich, Adam P. Romero, and R. Bradley Sears
November 2007

This analysis estimates the potential impact of extending marriage rights to same-sex couples on Maryland’s state budget. Drawing on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Maryland statistical reports, we estimate that extending marriage rights to same-sex couples would result in a net gain of approximately $3.2 million each year. This net gain is attributable to savings in expenditures on means tested public benefit programs and an increase in sales and lodging tax revenue from weddings and wedding-related tourism.

The Impact on Maryland's Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry

The Financial Impact of Domestic Partner Benefits in New Hampshire
By M.V Lee Badgett
December 2006

 

The Financial Impact of Domestic Partner Benefits in New Hampshire

Economic Benefits from Same-Sex Weddings in New Jersey
By M.V. Lee Badgett
December 2006

This report predicts that if same-sex couples were allowed to marry, sales by New Jersey’s wedding and tourism-related businesses would rise by $102.5 million per year. Also, the State’s gross receipt tax revenues would rise by $7.2 million per year.

Economic Benefits from Same-Sex Weddings in New Jersey

Supporting Families, Saving Funds: An Economic Analysis of Equality for Same-Sex Couples in New Jersey
By
M. V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D., R. Bradley Sears, J.D., Deborah Ho, J.D.
Fall 2006

This article, published in the Rutgers Journal of Law & Policy in Fall 2006, discusses the economic impact of allowing same-sex couples to marry in New Jersey,
projecting  that giving same-sex couples the right to marry would result in a net gain to the State of $3.9 to $8.1 million. In addition, extending marriage to same-sex couples would create a net financial gain to New Jersey businesses of approximately $90.2 million per year for at least the few first years of marriage equality.

Supporting Families, Saving Funds: An Economic Analysis of Equality for Same-Sex Couples in New Jersey

New Study on Health Insurance Inequality and Domestic Partner Benefits
M.V. Lee Badgett and Michael A. Ash
October 2006

This new study finds that unmarried couples are significantly less likely to have health insurance than married people. The number of uninsured people in unmarried couples would drop significantly if employers offered health insurance to domestic partners. However, employers would experience only a small increase in health insurance enrollment and costs if they offered partner coverage.

For Health Insurance Inequality and Domestic Partner Benefits FAQs (PDF)

To download the detailed article (PDF)

The Impact of the Colorado Domestic Partnership Act on Colorado's State Budget
M.V. Lee Badgett, R. Bradley Sears, Roger Lee, and Danielle MacCartney
October 2006

This study estimates that allowing same-sex couples to enter into domestic partnerships under the proposed “Colorado Domestic Partnership Benefits and Responsibilities Act” will result in a net gain of approximately $1.2 million each year for the State.  This net increase will result from savings in expenditures on state means-tested public benefits programs and from an increase in sales tax revenue from registration celebrations. 

The Impact of the Colorado Domestic Partnership Act on Colorado's State Budget

The Effect of Marriage Equality and Domestic Partnership on Business and the Economy
M.V. Lee Badgett, PhD, and Gary J. Gates, PhD
October 9, 2006

This report finds that employer policies that treat employees with same-sex partners or spouses equally would improve the health and well-being of their families, which results in gains for both the employee and his or her family as well as to the employer.

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

The Impact on Washington’s Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry
M.V. Lee Badgett, R. Bradley Sears, Elizabeth Kukura, and Holning Lau
June 15, 2006

This report finds that giving marriage rights to same-sex couples in Washington will have a positive impact on the state budget.

The Impact on Washington's Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry
 

Testimony by Dr. M. V. Lee Badgett to the
California State Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee
by M. V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D.
April 26, 2006

Testimony by Dr. M. V. Lee Badgett to the
California State Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee

 

The Impact on New Mexico's Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry
by M. V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D., R. Bradley Sears, Steven K. Homer, Patrice Curtis, and Elizabeth Kukura
March 23, 2006

This report finds that giving marriage rights to same-sex couples in New Mexico will have a positive impact on the state budget. The study estimates that the state would save up to $1.5 million to $2 million each year for the state.

The Impact on New Mexico's State Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry (pdf)

 

Positive Effects on State of Alaska From Domestic Partnership Benefits
by M. V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D.
March 9, 2006


This report shows that including employees’ domestic partners in public employers’ health care and other benefits will have positive effects on state and local government employers in Alaska.

Positive Effects on State of Alaska From Domestic Partnership Benefits (pdf)

 

The Cost to Ocean County of Providing Pension Benefits to Employees' Domestic Partners
by M. V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D.
January 24, 2006

This study estimates the cost to the county of extending spousal benefits to domestic partners of county employees in Ocean County, New Jersey.

The Cost to Ocean County of Providing Pension Benefits to Employees' Domestic Partners (pdf)

 

The Impact on New Hampshire's Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry
by R. Bradley Sears, Esq., M. V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Kukura
November 30, 2005

This study finds that giving marriage rights to same-sex couples in New Hampshire will have a positive impact on the state budget. The study estimates that the state would save up to $500,000 each year for the state.

The Impact on New Hampshire's Budget of Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry (pdf)

 

Putting a Price on Equality? The Impact of Same-Sex Marriage on California's Budget
By R. Bradley Sears, Esq. and M. V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D.
2005

This study, Putting a Price on Equality? The Impact of Same-Sex Marriage on California's Budget, published in the Stanford Law and Policy Review, finds that giving marriage rights to same-sex couples in California will have a positive impact on the state budget.

Putting a Price on Equality? The Impact of Same-Sex Marriage on California's Budget

Counting on Couples: Fiscal Savings From Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry in Connecticut
By R. Bradley Sears, Esq., M. V. Lee Badgett, Ph.D., Patrice Curtis, and Elizabeth Kukura
March, 2005

This study finds that giving marriage rights to same-sex couples in Connecticut will have a positive impact on the state budget. The study estimates that the state would save at least $3 million per year and as much as $13 million if same-sex couples could marry. Civil unions will result in more than $2 million per year in savings.

Counting on Couples: Fiscal Savings From Allowing Same-Sex Couples to Marry in Connecticut (pdf)

THE IMPACT ON CALIFORNIA'S BUDGET OF ALLOWING SAME-SEX COUPLES TO MARRY
By M.V. Lee Badgett and R. Bradley Sears
May, 2004

CA-SameSexMarriage.PDF - 1.4 MB

The Impact of AB 2208 on California Businesses
By M.V. Lee Badgett and R. Bradley Sears
May, 2004

Brad Sears's California Assembly Appropriations Committee Testimony
on AB2208

Supporting Families, Saving Funds: 
A Fiscal Analysis of New Jersey's Domestic Partnership Act
By M.V. Lee Badgett and R. Bradley Sears
November, 2003

NJ-DPA.PDF - 336 KB

The impact of New Jersey's Domestic Partnership Act on employer health care costs

Equal Rights, Fiscal Responsibility: 
The Impact of AB 205 on California's Budget 

By M.V. Lee Badgett and R. Bradley Sears
May, 2003

AB205Study.PDF - 490.11KB

Brad Sears's Appropriations Committee Testimony on AB205

The impact of AB205 on debt collection in California

The Bottom Line on Family Equality: The Impact of AB205 of California's Businesses