Campus sex ratios and college intimacy: new evidence from linked student and institutional data

This study examines how imbalanced college male-to-female ratios influence students' dating-related behaviors, in the context of the increasingly prevalent hookup culture on American campuses. By integrating detailed individual- and college-level data, we group all relevant outcome measures into two summary indices to capture two key channels: the dating-related opportunity index, which reflects students’ likelihood of forming partnerships, and the casual sexuality index, which assesses bargaining power by gender. The comprehensive merged dataset also allows us to account for key characteristics at both levels, helping to mitigate potential self-selection bias. Consistent with theoretical predictions, the findings show that as the availability of potential male mates increases, female students are more likely to engage in on-campus dating-related activities. Additionally, both men and women reduce participation in casual sexual activities when the male-to-female ratio rises. Notably, students with prior sexual experience and those from married or cohabiting-parent families appear more responsive to shifts in college sex ratios. JEL Codes: J12, J13, J16