On the Rocks: Recession-Related Life Problems and Relationship Stability

21 Pages Posted: 5 Apr 2013

See all articles by Pascoe Pleasence

Pascoe Pleasence

University College London

Nigel Balmer

Victoria Law Foundation; University College London

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

The impact of the recent near-collapse of the world banking system continues to be felt within families, with many people facing employment, money and housing problems as a direct result. Using data from a UK household survey, this paper explores the relationship between recession-related ‘justiciable’ life problems and relationship stability. Around 4% of such problems were reported to have brought about a family break-up. Often this was also accompanied by other life problems, such as stress-related illness. The risk of families breaking up was also observed to increase following the experience of recession-related problems, with the risk remaining high for a number of years. Our findings point to the role of legal services in mitigating the impact of recession-related justiciable problems, as well as the family problems that can ensue. Of concern, those most likely to report a relationship breakdown as a consequence of a recession-related problem included those on low incomes. With another consequence of the economic downturn being a contraction of the legal aid scheme, this poses a real challenge to people’s ability to access justice.

Keywords: child law, family law, recession, relationship breakdown, legal aid, justice

Suggested Citation

Pleasence, Pascoe T. and Balmer, Nigel, On the Rocks: Recession-Related Life Problems and Relationship Stability (2012). Child and Family Law Quarterly, Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 39-59, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2244362

Pascoe T. Pleasence (Contact Author)

University College London ( email )

Bentham House
4-8 Endsleigh Gardens
London, WC1E OEG
United Kingdom

Nigel Balmer

Victoria Law Foundation ( email )

5/43 Hardware Lane
Melbourne, 3000
Australia
3000 (Fax)

University College London

Bentham House
4-8 Endsleigh Gardens
London, WC1E OEG
United Kingdom

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