Estimating the Effect of a Single-Salary System on Marriage Rates and Retention

reportActive / Technical Report | Accesssion Number: AD1145628 | Open PDF

Abstract:

This report considers one of the potential effects of a DOD move to a single-salary system (SSS): changes in servicemember retention driven by changes in marriage behavior. It analyzes the effects that a move to an SSS is likely to have on the percentage of servicemembers who are married and studies the changes in retention rates and force size that may be induced by any changes in marriage behavior. Our approach includes a review of the literature on the relationships between compensation, marital status, and retention; computation of pay changes underdifferent SSS implementation scenarios; estimation of the effect of marital status on retention using personnel data; and development of a model that can forecast marriage rates and force size over time. Overall, we find that these effects are likely to be small, so there is little need for policy-makers to be concerned about these effects when considering a change to an SSS.

Author(s):
Geraghty, Thomas M. ; Cox, Gerald E. ; Huff, Jared M. ; Townsley, Rachel ; Malone, Lauren ; Kambic, Jacklyn
Author Organization(s):
CENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSES
Funding Organization(s):
OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH, ARLINGTON , VA
Document Type:
Technical Report/Technical Report
Publication Date:
2020 Apr 01
Pagination:
0

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution Code:
A - Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement: Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TRECMS
Identifying Numbers
Contract Number(s):
N00014-16-D-5003
Subject Terms
Communities of Interest:
Human Systems
Descriptor(s):
enlisted personnel, data analysis, department of defense, management personnel, military personnel, personnel management, sociology, air force, business administration, employment, governments, marine corps, national governments, organizational structure, warrant officers, health care, manpower
Keyword(s):
sss (Single-Salary System), qrmc (Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation), bah (basic allowance for housinG), bas (basic allowance for subsistence), marital status, full compensatioN, partial compensation, rmc (regular military compensation), Basic pay, Tax advantages
Subject Categories:
Military Sciences; Behavioral and Social Sciences; Mathematical and Computer Sciences
Creation Date:
2021 Aug 20
Update Date:
2021 Nov 16