There are of course any number of studies that support this: what happens when men get a raise vs. when women get one etc. We know that men in general want to start a family and they want to be able to provide for them, which isn't possible if there are not enough stable jobs, not enough money, no chance of owning a home, etc. We also know from both studies and from actually talking to our mothers and wives and daughters and coworkers and friends that women prefer a man that have the resources (family support, income, savings, real estate etc,) to support them when they can not work. But of course there are many many factors weighing in here. But still. It isn't just a trope in literature and drama. Not to mention the role of parents in the family formation of their children.