The Effects on Children of the Decline in Marriage-Becker

Marriage emerged as the most popular institution throughout history primarily because it was an effective arrangement to improve the care and upbringing of children. Marriage is not necessary to have children, but it has been of enormous importance in the rearing of children. Birds and other non-human species do not have “marriage”, but both parents are often involved in raising their offspring.

With the sharp declines in birth rates since 1970 in Western and other rich countries, including much larger fractions of adults who do not have any children, both men and women have significantly increased their ages at marriage, and sharply raised their propensities to divorce. In 1950, a typical woman and man married at ages 20.3 and 22.8, respectively, whereas now the typical marital ages are 26.0 and 27.7, respectively. These changes in age at marriage are related to reduced demand for many children, increased college education of both men and women but especially of women, much greater labor force participation of married and divorced women, and the narrowing of the gender gap in earnings.

There are several reasons to be concerned about the below population replacement fertility levels in all of Europe and about half the world’s population, including China and Japan. Low fertility makes it much harder to finance retirement benefits, medical care for the aged, and other entitlements that rely on taxing working age populations to pay for the support of older persons. Low birth rates in richer countries also induce increased migration of young workers from poorer countries with large families to provide the unskilled and other young workers that every society needs. Low birth rates lead to sex-selected abortions in societies with a strong preference for having at least one son, as in China and parts of India. Below replacement fertility eventually causes populations to decline (aside from migration), which has unknown consequences for economic growth and other macro economic and social developments. As important as these topics are, I will not discuss them further since our subject today is low marriage rates and high propensities to divorce, which raise distinct issues from the effects of low fertility.

The most important economic and social concerns due to low marriage rates are the effects on rearing of children. These effects are not due to lower marriage rates alone, but rather to the close connection between these low rates and high divorce rates, and to the greater propensity of women to have children without being married, or without living with the fathers of their children.

Although many single mothers do an absolutely wonderful job in raising their children, common sense and most academic findings suggest that having a father present during the raising of children generally has a positive effect on the development of non-cognitive traits of children. These include a general respect for authority and reduced rebelliousness in school, and the avoidance of gangs and other criminal activities. It also appears that the absence of fathers has a greater effect on the non-cognitive traits of sons than daughters, although that is a less well-established finding.

The sharp deterioration during the past 50 years in the stability of black families in America is responsible, I believe, for much of the continuing dismal record in school performance and in society more generally of children from black families. When over half of all black children are raised in families with only one parent, one can hardly be optimistic about their development. Black leaders were highly critical of Patrick Moynihan when in a famous report in 1965 he attributed the low achievement levels of many black children to the absence of fathers in their homes. However, most leaders of the black community have come around to sharing Moynihan’s views as a result of the further deterioration in black families since his report, and the continuing poor school performance, high crime rates, and low incomes and high unemployment of many black children and young adults.

Children in white and Hispanic families have also suffered from the growth in divorce rates and in single motherhood. Children of divorced parents and other children raised by single moms generally do worse in school, attend less good schools, are more likely to drop out of high school, and have poorer job market experiences. Although the moms in single parent families also have lower incomes and education, I believe that a sizable portion of the below average performance of children from single parent families is due to their family structures.

I am not claiming that children are worst off when their parents divorce if their parents were fighting a lot, or if they had abusive fathers. Rather, it appears that up to a significant point, children are better off in intact families even when their families are not ideal. If correct, this suggests a considerable gain not from encouraging marriage per se, but from policies that encourage families to stay together. One approach is for governments to subsidize intact families, whatever their income levels, rather than just subsidizing families with only one parent because they have lower incomes. Other approaches may be better, but the effects of single parenting on the development of children is a far more important question than the question of who can call themselves “married”, and other family issues that preoccupy the attention of many politicians and others.

 

 

Comments

[online doctor]

marriage is very important in our country, many rebel children comes from broken family.

[Matt]

Based on your summary, I would assume you are in favor of allowing gays and lesbians to marry, especially if they have children. Your previous articles on this subject, however, assign a lesser value on outcomes of children raised by two gay parents than by a single straight parent. Can you explain your reasoning?

[hydrocodone no prescription needed]

Hi i really like your website it was well thrown together so look forward to seeing most posts.

[sesli chat]

Thank you for the respectful tone in which you addressed single motherhood. As the husband of a former single mother, I can attest to the detrimental effects of the vitriol employed by so-called cultural conservatives. They did not make my job as a father easier in any way. My wife and I agree with your point about the obvious challenges of single motherhood, by the way, but that's not what motivated my comment. Furthermore, I always leave room for respectful disagreement.

[coach handbags]

Just for today I will be happy. This assumes to be true what Abraham Lincoln said，that "Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

[Jordans 5]

Complaints are the greatest offerings that God obtains from human beings, as well as the most faithful prayers human beings might utter toGod. I thought It was very reasonable

[oil paintings]

So happy to enjoy such a insightful article that does not depend on base posturing to get the topic fulfilled. The post is in reality the greatest on this laudable topic. Keep it up!

[MRWED]

If there are effects on children on the decline of marriage. This is not debatable; there is a great impact to children if parents are separated. Others thought that children from divorced parents will turn to bad ones but for me it’s not true at all because there are still children who are bad even if parents are together.

[Nike Shox Turbo]

Literature flourishes best when it is half a trade and half an art. (Wiliam Rplph lnge, British writer and churchman)

[nike shox onine]

Men trifle with their business and their politics, but they never trifle with their games. (George Burnard Shaw British dramatist)

[Ed Hardy]

If there are effects on children on the decline of marriage. This is not debatable; there is a great impact to children if parents are separated. Others thought that children from divorced parents will turn to bad ones but for me it’s not true at all because there are still children who are bad even if parents are together.
http://www.hotsale-watch.com/ Replica Watches
http://www.purseb2c.com/ Designer Handbags
http://www.oilpainting-sale.net/ Oil Painting Reproductions

[lower back pain]

Even in early adolescent years two adult relationships is enough for many children to focus on. In adult years, I expect that a child raised by a group would associate with his or her parent in the distant way that one might associate with a home town or with aunts and uncles. I see no reason to expect better child rearing from a commune. I invite your response, Morgan.

[Shelia]

I can see that you are an expert in this area. I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business

[health care]

This is really interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I've joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I've shared your site in my social networks!

[Rosetta Stone]

With the sharp declines in birth rates since 1970 in Western and other rich countries, including much larger fractions of adults who do not have any children, both men and women have significantly increased their ages at marriage, and sharply raised their propensities to divorce. In 1950, a typical woman and man married at ages 20.3 and 22.8, respectively, whereas now the typical marital ages are 26.0 and 27.7, respectively. These changes in age at marriage are related to reduced demand for many children, increased college education of both men and women but especially of women, much greater labor force participation of married and divorced women, and the narrowing of the gender gap in earnings.

[mbt shoes]

This article is very interesting, I like it. I will always come to visit after.I would recommend to friends more.

[solar-energy-china]

It is amazing what fear can lead us to believe. You brought me along with you, though I started getting a little pissed the Army would risk killing it's own soldiers. Nice piece of writing my friend. Glad to see it is where it belongs...on the cover.

[solar-energy-company]

If you thought that dating after forty was scary, try it a decade later! Though I looked at it as an incredible learning curve, most of the learning was about myself.

[solar-collectors-importer]

That would be fine if that is what happened. But, despite your obvious business expertise, there is a chance that all books will someday be sold online.

[extension cords]

Very true. Those men, as well as some icons who have already left, were symbols of a world in which we grew up and felt safer more powerful and capable of success simply by following the rules of decency and good. It did work for a while, even if it might have been an illusion. ?R

[booster cable]

Great insights! Also remind me to be a discerning reader.

[china-pvc-ceiling]

Wonderfully written, full of love. Well deserved EP.

[pvc-ceiling-manufacturers]

It's funny to look at what we decide to ban and what we consider basic freedoms.

[pvc-ceiling-suppliers]

It's funny to look at what we decide to ban and what we consider basic freedoms.

[חופשות סקי]

Low beginning charges in better nations around the world also generate improved migration of youthful staff from not as good nations around the world with large family members to provide the new and other youthful staff that every world needs.