The Determinants of the Prevalence of Single Mothers: A Cross-Country Analysis

Libertad Gonzalez

No 413, LIS Working papers from LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of public assistance, labor market and marriage market conditions on the prevalence of single mother families across countries and over time. A multinomial logit derived from a random utility approach is estimated using individual level data for 14 countries. I find evidence that increases in the level of public support are significantly and positively associated with a higher incidence of both never married and divorced mothers. The results also suggest that single mothers are more prevalent when female wages are lower. Higher male earnings and employment opportunities in a womans marriage market appear to lead to fewer never married mothers, but more divorced mothers. Higher child support or alimony payments are associated with a higher prevalence of divorced mothers.

Pages: 38 pages
Date: 2005-07
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Published in Journal of Socio-Economics 34, no. 1 (2005): 83-100

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Determinants of the Prevalence of Single Mothers: A Cross-Country Analysis (2005)
Working Paper: The determinants of the prevalence of single mothers: A cross-country analysis (2005)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lis:liswps:413

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