Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/36023 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 4314
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Since the 1970s almost all states have introduced a form of joint custody after divorce. We analyze the causal effect of these custody law reforms on the incidence of marriage and divorce. Our identification strategy exploits the different timing of reforms across states and the control group of divorcing couples without minors. Estimations based on state panel data suggest that the introduction of joint custody led to a long-run increase in marriage rates. There is no convincing evidence for an impact of joint custody on divorce rates. In sum, joint custody has increased the stock of married people and dampened the persistent downturn in marriage. Our empirical evidence is fully consistent with the supposition that these additional marriages are the result of an increased incentive of men to marry.
Subjects: 
Joint custody
marriage
divorce
family law
marital-specific investment
JEL: 
J12
J13
J18
K36
D13
N32
R2
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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