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Title: Recession and Divorce in the United States: Economic Conditions and the Odds of Divorce, 2008-2010

Citation Type: Working Paper

Publication Year: 2012

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Abstract: The economic recession that began in 2007 prompted speculation over its effects on divorce rates in the U.S. Opposing hypotheses suggest either that recession increases divorce through a stress mechanism; or that it reduces divorce by exacerbating cost barriers or strengthening family bonds. The American Community Survey now offers a large-scale, repeated national sample survey with size large enough to test state-level divorce patterns – and timing suitable for examining potential effects of changing economic conditions. After establishing an individual- level model predicting women’s divorce, I test whether unemployment and foreclosures are associated with the odds of divorce, and for whom. Results show that foreclosure rates are positively associated with the odds of divorce, but only for those with more than a high school education. State unemployment rates show no effect on odds of divorce. I also test the effect of state laws delaying divorce, and find they have an increasingly negative effect of the three-year period, suggesting a backlog of new divorces during the recession.

Url: https://www.terpconnect.umd.edu/~pnc/MPRC-2012-008.pdf

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Authors: Cohen, Philip, N

Series Title: Maryland Population Research Center WORKING PAPER

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Institution: Maryland Population Research Center

Pages: 22

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Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Family and Marriage

Countries: United States