Does Child Support Enforcement Reduce Divorce Rates?: A Reexamination

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Human Resources
Year: 2003
Volume: 38
Issue: 4

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

During the 1990s, expenditures on Child Support Enforcement increased dramatically, as did the amount of money collected in these efforts. This paper examines whether there is a link between the Child Support Enforcement program and the divorce behavior of married couples with children. Previous work, notably that of Nixon (1997), found a significant negative effect of Child Support Enforcement policy on the probability of divorce. However, using a panel of state divorce rates and policy variables, I find that, contrary to this previous study, Child Support Enforcement policy has no significant impact on divorce rates.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:uwp:jhriss:v:38:y:2003:i:4:p773-791
Journal Field
Labor
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-02-02