Unilateral Divorce Laws & the Impact on the Divorce Rate- Wolfers

              Wolfers (2003) examined how unilateral divorce laws impacted the divorce rate in the United States. Unilateral divorce laws “allowed people to see a divorce without the consent of their spouse” (p. 1, Wolfers, 2003). Prior to the unilateral divorce laws, both partners had to consent to the divorce before it could occur (Wolfers, 2003). Wolfers (2003) found that the divorce rate did increase after the change in the divorce rate, however after a decade the rate began to lower again. Wolfers (2003) suggests that the results may have occurred because unilateral divorce laws allowed poor matches to dissolve earlier than they would have normally and that as the divorce laws changed, the rate of marriage decreased. Wolfers (2003) stated that overall, while the unilateral divorce laws did impact the divorce rate for a short period, the effects were not long lasting.

                Wolfers (2003) study does not directly relate to any of the previous studies we have reviewed as our focus was on the unemployment rates impact on the divorce rate. As we continued to examine this correlation, we chose to broaden our view. Prior to this study, we did not know about the unilateral divorce law change. It is interesting to examine other variables that have an impact on the divorce rate. In our upcoming literature reviews, we will examine how household size and the location of the married couple can impact the divorce rate or overall likelihood of divorce.

Wolfers, J. (2003). Did unilateral divorce laws raise divorce rates? A reconciliation and new results. NBER               Working Paper Series. Retrieved from EBSCO database.