The effect of joint custody on marriage and divorce

Arbeitspapier

Since the 1970s almost all states have introduced a form of joint custody after divorce. We analyze the causal effect of these custody law reforms on the incidence of marriage and divorce. Our identification strategy exploits the different timing of reforms across states and the control group of divorcing couples without minors. Estimations based on state panel data suggest that the introduction of joint custody led to a long-run increase in marriage rates. There is no convincing evidence for an impact of joint custody on divorce rates. In sum, joint custody has increased the stock of married people and dampened the persistent downturn in marriage. Our empirical evidence is fully consistent with the supposition that these additional marriages are the result of an increased incentive of men to marry.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 4314

Klassifikation und Themen

• Klassifikation: Sozialwissenschaften, Soziologie, Anthropologie ; Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure; Domestic Abuse ; Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth ; Demographic Economics: Public Policy ; Family and Personal Law ; Household Production and Intrahousehold Allocation ; Economic History: Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy: U.S.; Canada: 1913-
• Thema: Joint custody ; marriage ; divorce ; family law ; marital-specific investment ; Unterhaltsrecht ; Ehe ; Scheidung ; Familienrecht ; Männer ; Ökonomischer Anreiz ; USA

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Halla, Martin
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wer): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (wo): Bonn
• (wann): 2009

Weitere Informationen

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/36023
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-20090825539
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 20.09.2024, 08:21 MESZ