Stories Behind the Numbers: When Laws Make Divorce Easier, US Census Bureau Research Show Women Benefit
Puck cartoon parodying the circus-like divorce proceedings of Anna Gould (an American heiress and socialite) and Boni de Castellane (a French nobleman) in 1906 in Paris, France. Boni de Castellane then sought an annulment from the Vatican so that he could be free to remarry in the Church. The annulment case was not finally settled until 1924, when the highest Vatican tribunal upheld the validity of the marriage and denied the annulment
By Misty L. Geggeness
This story showcases one of the many independent research projects done by US Census Bureau experts on topics relevant to the agency’s mission.
Divorce usually conjures negative thoughts of broken homes and acrimony but research now shows that divorce laws can actually have a positive effect on society and the economy.
According to new research, laws that make it easier to divorce can improve the welfare of household members, even for couples that stay together.
Divorce can be difficult and lead to less than ideal well-being outcomes. But studies both abroad and in the United States show divorce laws can play a positive role.
According to new research, laws that make it easier to divorce can improve the welfare of household members, even for couples that stay together.
When family laws shift property rights and provide payments directly to women upon divorce, wives have been shown to invest more in quality schooling for their children and in schooling in general. Their leisure time increases and they start working more, decreasing the time they spend on household chores such as cleaning and cooking.
The prospect of onerous alimony, child support and other divorce compensation increases wives’ bargaining power when they have the option to divorce.
It may be less favorable for husbands but the reverse is also true when divorce laws are more favorable to husbands.
Studies have shown there are unexpected positive ripple effects when laws make divorce easier and quicker, including:
- The number of marriages increases by at least 9%.
- Female suicides decrease by 8% to 16% and domestic violence decreases by around 30%.
- Women start working more outside of the home — up to 7 percentage points more – increasing their economic clout in a marriage by bringing income that they control into the home.
Divorce laws may also influence the quantity and gender of children within marriage.
Easier access to divorce has been shown to reduce the number of births and, in China, divorce reform has decreased the probability of trying to have a son after a first-born daughter by around 12%.
Also, laws that guarantee generous financial compensation upon divorce have been shown to increase first births among highly educated women. Knowing that they will be compensated for lost wages reduces the risk of leaving the labor market to have children.
In a divorce, family courts redistribute resources gained during (and sometimes before) marriage. Women have more to gain in divorce if laws are more favorable to wives. first births among highly educated women. Knowing that they will be compensated for lost wages reduces the risk of leaving the labor market to have children.
Expanded alimony and child support and allowances for divorced mothers have been shown to increase investments in children’s schooling and clothing.
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