Posted on 12/02/2014 3:49:55 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
But here is the thing: It is no longer true that the divorce rate is rising, or that half of all marriages end in divorce. It has not been for some time. Even though social scientists have tried to debunk those myths, somehow the conventional wisdom has held.
Despite hand-wringing about the institution of marriage, marriages in this country are stronger today than they have been in a long time. The divorce rate peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s and has been declining for the three decades since. Photo
About 70 percent of marriages that began in the 1990s reached their 15th anniversary (excluding those in which a spouse died), up from about 65 percent of those that began in the 1970s and 1980s. Those who married in the 2000s are so far divorcing at even lower rates. If current trends continue, nearly two-thirds of marriages will never involve a divorce, according to data from Justin Wolfers, a University of Michigan economist (who also contributes to The Upshot).
There are many reasons for the drop in divorce, including later marriages, birth control and the rise of so-called love marriages. These same forces have helped reduce the divorce rate in parts of Europe, too.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
This is surprising. Also, the teen pregnancy has fallen to its lowest rate in some 60 years. Everyone is pleased by this, but no one knows the reason for it.
bull hockey, you should have seen the full courtroom I was in today
“This is surprising. Also, the teen pregnancy has fallen to its lowest rate in some 60 years. Everyone is pleased by this, but no one knows the reason for it.”
Well what about all the faux marriages? Man and woman move in together. Basically common law. Could even have children together. I suggest that part of the lower divorce rate is that when these relationships fail, they are not counted. You can argue they aren’t real marriages. But it sure looks like marriage from a certain point of view.
Violent crime rate has also dropped, again, no one really knows why.
Fewer couples bothering to get married in the first place.
So many serial marriers now just cohabitate.
More people now know someone who regrets the divorce they insisted on.
Divorce lowers your financial stability, and people who might have divorced can't afford to live on one income.
More teens have a broke single mom in their family. The rough time is seen first hand.
There are a depressing number of teens already sterile from HPV and such.
Families where both parents no longer have full time work can supervise their teenagers.
True.
Simplest explanation is that there are many fewer marriages these days, period. A much larger proportion of children are born out of wedlock.
It stands to reason that the people actually marrying these days have a degree of commitment to marriage greater than the rest, who don’t bother to marry, but in the past might have, and consequently been more prone to divorce.
This also somewhat explains the higher divorce rate in “Red” states. There is a higher rate of marriage hence a higher rate of divorce.
“Also, the teen pregnancy has fallen to its lowest rate in some 60 years. Everyone is pleased by this, but no one knows the reason for it.”
Then there’s IUDs (much more prevalent today than a decade ago) cutting down on the pregnancy rate, and abortion taking care of the rest (yes, the abortion rate is down, but mostly among women in their 20s and 30s).
There has been a decrease in teenagers engaging in premarital sex in some population segments, but not in the teen population as a whole.
Just wait until gay dirvorce.
One of my gay friends posted that his marriage is all about submission. That brought out quite a chorus.
My three rental units now have renters ranging from early 20’s to early 40’s to mid-70’s. None of them are in traditional marriages. The 70-somethings are living two women with one man, none with the same last name. The two “kids” have a child and are expecting another. The 40’s are living together and have three teenagers. I have no idea whether the teenagers are his, hers or theirs. I simply don’t ask.
Virtually everyone in my generation my wife and I know are now divorced. We are one of the few still together (30 years now). Ironically, a lot of the divorces are “grey divorces,” I can’t tell you how many people we know our age have called it quits within the past 5 years. Seems like once the kids are out of the house, that is the end of the marriage.
“You can argue they aren’t real marriages. But it sure looks like marriage from a certain point of view.”
In some states if you live with someone for 6 months, have a joint account for utilities or billing address you are considered to be married.
this one we do know. the sprad of ccw across the states. always drops the crime rates by about 30%.
Which states are those?
Cameras in public places and DNA evidence
You mean I’ve waited too late and missed my chance? Fiddlesticks!
Many good insightful reasons offered here by FRiends.
I think the poor economy / work prospects have a lot to do with decreased divorce rates.
I know several unhappy long married couples who dismissed the possibility of divorce, since it would have significantly impacted their standard of living and financial security.
Establishing and maintaining separate households is quite expensive.
Dang near 80% of my kids friends are from broken homes. Am I expected to believe this is some freak anomoly? When I was growing up only 1 person I knew was from a broken home.
Texas is one, most of the others are in the West I think.
I knew a guy in Denton at university years ago that moved in with a girl, they lived together for 6 months and she took him to divorce court even though they’d never been officially married. But, because they were living together, both names on the lease and a couple of other technical details the state considered them to be common law married
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