Question

What are the macro-level factors that explain why people are postponing marriage?

Answer 1

Marriage in the 21^st century is losing its significance because of various reasons. What was once considered to be a sacrament has become a burden to many people. As generation pass by people are afraid to take responsibility, be in a committed relationship through the marriage bond, rear children etc. Although culture plays a role to an extent, there are few other macro-level reasons that determine the delay in marriage.

One of the most important reason is the economic situation of both the country and the individual. If one is economically settled, one prepares oneself for marriage, otherwise one postpones marriage until the economic conditions stabilizes. Secondly, technology has changed the way people meet and date. With the invention of Facebook, chatrooms and other dating sites provide enough exposure to people to meet new people and engage in casual encounters and dating. This switching of people from time to time makes it difficult for one to stay in a long term committed relationship. Women have started working and they do not wish to sacrifice their career for any reason thus delay the marriage which they think would bind them and distract them from their professional growth. So, all these macro-level reasons delay marriage in most of the countries, especially in the developed countries.

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