Rolf Degen summarizing: A high sex ratio (scarcity of women compared to men) leads to higher marriage rates, fewer divorces, greater fertility, women choosing higher quality mates & being happier in their marriages

Does Mate Scarcity Affect Marital Choice and Family Formation? The Evidence for New and Classic Formulations of Sex Ratio Theory. Emily A. Stone. Marriage and Family Review, https://doi.org/10.1080/01494929.2018.1501789

Abstract: Guttentag and Secord pioneered research on the social consequences of imbalances in the numbers of men and women—the sex ratio. Since then, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, and even biologists have investigated its effects on marriage and reproduction. I review the three prevailing theories to explain why sex ratio should affect marriage and reproduction, along with the evidence that it does. I also review the growing evidence that sex ratio imbalances are associated with mate choice. Sex ratio reveals contradictory relationships with mate preferences and actual partner choice, however, raising a conundrum for future research. Overall, there is strong experimental and correlational support for the patterns of marriage and reproduction associated with sex ratio. What emerges is the necessity for future research to distinguish among the perspectives to explain why.

Keywords: fertility, marriage, mate choice, sex ratio