Extending marriage to same-sex couples could add $182 million to the Texas economy
Extending marriage to same-sex couples in Texas could generate $181.6 million for the state economy, according to a study released today by the Williams Institute, a liberal think tank that’s part of the University of California School of Law in Los Angeles.
The money would come from same-sex couples spending to arrange their weddings and out-of-state guests buying goods and services in Texas. The $181.6 million economic boost includes $14.8 million in sales tax revenue to state and local coffers, according to the report.
“This study confirms that all Texans benefit from marriage for same-sex couples, not just the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] community,” study co-author and Williams distinguished scholar M.V. Lee Badgett said in a statement.
Texas was home to 46,401 same-sex couples, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, the latest data available. Williams estimates that half of those couples (23,200) would marry in the first three years of a same-sex marriage law, based on patterns in Massachusetts and other places.
More at http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2014/07/extending-marriage-to-same-sex-couples-could-add-182-million-to-the-texas-economy.html/ .
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