"We examine a relatively neglected aspect of intergenerational transmission of economic standing,
namely culturally determined status markers and their valuation in the marriage market.
We take nobility to be such a status marker. Using data on Swedish marriages,
we test the hypothesis that nobility have a greater probability of marrying “up” in terms of wealth.
We found a large and statistically significant positive effect for nobility.
This finding has implications for the intergenerational transmission of inequality,
and for the longevity of the institution of nobility itself",
http://www.ifn.se , 04.12.08