Changes in the Economic Consequences of Divorces, 1958-2008
30 Pages Posted: 8 Jan 2009
Date Written: January 6, 2009
Abstract
This article, part of an issue that surveys changes in family law over the past 50 years, discusses how the economic consequences of divorce have changed during this period. This article surveys some of the various social changes that have had an impact, such as changes in the divorce rate, changes in the characteristics of divorcing couples, and changes in women's participation in the work force. Some family law legal changes are also discussed, such as the acceptance of equitable distribution and changes in rules applicable to spousal support. Other legal changes are mentioned, such as the acceptance of premarital agreements, the adoption of Medicare, and the acceptance of no-fault divorce.
The article notes that some very general consensus seems to be evolving regarding child support awards and marital property rules. In contrast, very different (and frequently unclear) standards are applied across the country regarding spousal support. The article discusses recent developments in Canada regarding the adoption of advisory spousal support guidelines as one potential avenue to increase predictability of spousal support awards in the U. S.
Keywords: divorce, equitable distribution, alimony, spousal support, guidelines
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?
Recommended Papers
-
By Jeremy Greenwood, Ananth Seshadri, ...
-
Engines of Liberation - Additional Notes
By Jeremy Greenwood and Ananth Seshadri
-
Measuring Trends in Leisure: The Allocation of Time Over Five Decades
By Erik Hurst and Mark Aguiar
-
Homework in Development Economics: Household Production and the Wealth of Nations
By Randall Wright, Richard Rogerson, ...
-
Labor Supply Shifts and Economic Fluctuations
By Yongsung Chang and Frank Schorfheide
-
Culture as Learning: The Evolution of Female Labor Force Participation Over a Century
-
By Jeremy Greenwood, Ananth Seshadri, ...
-
By Valerie A. Ramey and Neville Francis