Trapped in Purgatory? The Impact of Divorce Laws on Women’s Welfare with Separation

Paula Calvo (), Murat Iyigun () and Jeanne Lafortune
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Paula Calvo: Yale University
Murat Iyigun: University of Colorado, Boulder

No 18093, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: We show that separation has been a relevant outcome of American relationships over the last century and that separated women have worse economic outcomes than those divorced. A transferable-utility model of marriage, separation and divorce indicates that the welfare effects of divorce legislation depend on considering separation as an alternative. Empirically, the adoption of unilateral divorce laws reduced separation and increased divorce, particularly among low-educated women. A calibrated model indicates heterogeneous welfare effects of unilateral divorce with gains being concentrated among women with lower education. Desertion laws with very short duration generate similar gains for women.

Keywords: female welfare; separation; divorce; marriage; gender gaps (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J11 J12 N32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dem and nep-upt
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