RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Does Child Support Enforcement Reduce Divorce Rates?
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 773
OP 791
DO 10.3368/jhr.XXXVIII.4.773
VO XXXVIII
IS 4
A1 Bradley T. Heim
YR 2003
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/XXXVIII/4/773.abstract
AB 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.