Examined how changes in family composition due to death of spouse, and subsequent remarriage, affected economic status. Found that death of spouse translated into substantial economic loss, especially for widows. Economic gains for both widows and widowers who remarried were generally large compared to those of persons who remained widowed for at…

Examines the economic hardship that divorce entails. Wives are usually awarded custody of children without commensurate financial help from fathers and face other impediments in the labor market to higher pay and adequate employment opportunities. Policies dealing with these problems often center on income transfers and enforcement of child…

Surveyed divorce settlements in Georgia and Washington during 1970 and 1980 to replicate Seal's study of no-fault divorce in California. Findings indicate few substantive changes. With no-fault divorce, alimony was rare, child custody was awarded to mothers, assets tended to be shared, and child support had not decreased. (Author/JAC)

Examined farm families with and without employed wife on economic and relationship status. Data from 1,067 farm spouses revealed that, compared to families with nonemployed wives, families with employed wives had higher debt loads, wives who worked longer hours in all production, wives who were less satisfied with marital relationship, and…

Adults living with unrelated adults of the opposite sex are contrasted with married couples living together. Couples living together without marriage are most likely to be residing in large metropolitan areas, and are characterized by relatively low income levels and high unemployment. The increase in adults living with an unrelated person of the…

Age at marriage, marital duration, religiosity and income have an effect on thinking about divorce independent of their effect on marital dissatisfaction. Wife's employment and the presence of preschool children are likely to lead to thoughts about divorce. (Author)