Análisis provincial de la nupcialidad en España (1887-2001) / A Provincial Analysis of Nuptiality in Spain (1887-2001)

espanolA partir de los datos provinciales de la edad de acceso al primer matrimonio y la solteria definitiva presentamos un detallado analisis del comportamiento nupcial segun sexo en Espana que cubre el periodo 1887-2001. Hemos podido comprobar que la gran diversidad provincial de patrones nupciales observados en Espana estuvo marcada fundamentalmente por la diferente intensidad del porcentaje de solteria definitiva mas que por la distinta edad de acceso al matrimonio. Tambien hemos constatado que los tradicionales patrones provinciales se siguieron replicando al menos hasta mediados del siglo pasado. La aplicacion de modernas tecnicas de analisis de panel de datos nos ha permitido confirmar algunas hipotesis explicativas que habitualmente suelen aparecer en la literatura especializada (referente al nivel economico, educativo o de urbanizacion) respecto al devenir historico del comportamiento nupcial en Espana. EnglishUsing provincial data about age at first marriage and permanent singlehood, this paper presents a detailed analysis of marriage behaviour for men and women in Spain over the period 1887-2001. It shows that the great diversity between the Spanish provinces as far as marriage patterns are concerned was basically conditioned by the different numbers of people who never married, rather than by the different ages at which people usually married for the first time. It also concludes that the traditional patterns in each province continued to be replicated at least until the mid-twentieth century. The application of modern panel techniques confirmed some explanatory hypotheses that are often proposed in the literature on the subject (concerning economic, educational, and urbanisation levels) about the historical development of marriage behaviour in Spain.