01 Feb, 2010

A new survey found that married men tend to earn more than their single counterparts because they have a "stronger work ethic", UK's Daily Mail reported .

Of 12,000 men surveyed, wages for those who tied the knot are nearly 30 percent higher -- while those in a co-habitating relationship earned 15 to 20 percent more than single men.

Factors including differences in age, education and work experience were taken into account during the analysis.

So what's causing the pay gap? It's believed that those who are married generally feel less satisfied with their income, due to lifestyle changes (such as purchasing a new home) and increased household expenditure after marriage.

Academics at the University of Bielefeld in Germany suggest that the dissatisfaction with their income could be driving married men to work harder and earn more -- causing the pay divide.

“Results indicate that a lower level of pay satisfaction induces married men to put more effort into their work, which leads to higher wages,” they said.

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