Was the Great Recession really responsible for falling divorce rates?

Cohen study casts doubt on "Silver Linings" divorce rate hypothesis

Divorce rates dropped during the Great Recession, but not necessarily because couples were able to repair their marriages, according to a new study by MPRC Faculty Associate Phillip Cohen. There were about 150,000 fewer divorces than expected over the years 2009-2011. The sharp decline in the divorce rate during the recession led to some early speculation that hard times were bringing husbands and wives closer together. But divorces are on the rise again as the economy improves. Cohen hypothesizes that this may indicate that many couples were simply postponing divorce until they could afford it.

More research is needed to understand the reasons for these changes in the divorce rate, Cohen says. In his study the odds of divorce were not significantly greater in states with higher levels of unemployment, but higher foreclosure rates did appear to be associated with higher levels of divorce. These results are not consistent enough to make solid claims about the reasons behind the fluctuating divorce rate. Future research may shed more light on the long-term effects of the recession on marriages and families.

Cohen’s study will be published in Population Research and Policy Review.

Read the study online in the MPRC working paper collection

Read about Cohen’s research on his blog, Family Inequality

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Was the Great Recession really responsible for falling divorce rates?

Maryland Population Research Center