Divorce laws and divorce rate in the US

Stefania Marcassa

The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, 2013, vol. 13, issue 1, 997-1035

Abstract: At the end of the 1960s, the US divorce law underwent major changes and the divorce rate almost doubled in all of the states. This paper shows that changes in property division, alimony transfers, and child custody assignments account for a substantial share of the increase in the divorce rate, especially for young, college educated couples with children. I solve and calibrate a model where agents make decisions on their marital status, savings, and labor supply. Under the new financial settlements, divorced men gain from a higher share of property, while women gain from an increase in alimony and child support transfers. The introduction of the unilateral decision to divorce has limited effects.

Keywords: Age-specific divorce rate; unilateral and consensual divorce; divorce laws; property division; alimony and child support; child custody; JEL classfication: J12; D13; K36 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Working Paper: Divorce Laws and Divorce Rate in the U.S (2013)
Working Paper: Divorce Laws and Divorce Rate in the U.S (2013)
Working Paper: Divorce laws and divorce rate in the US (2013)
Working Paper: Divorce laws and divorce rate in the US (2013)
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DOI: 10.1515/bejm-2012-0149

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