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Child-custody reform, marital investment in children, and the labor supply of married mothers

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Author Info

  • Nunley, John M.
  • Seals Jr., Richard Alan

Abstract

Research on child custody primarily focuses on the well-being of children following divorce. We extend this literature by examining how the prospect of joint child custody affects within-marriage investment in children through changes in household bargaining power. Variation in the timing of joint-custody reforms across states provides a natural-experiment framework with which to examine within-marriage investment in children. The probability of children's private school attendance declines by 12% in states that adopt joint-custody laws. We also find evidence linking joint-custody reform to higher rates of labor force participation for married mothers, which may indicate less time devoted household production.

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Bibliographic Info

Article provided by Elsevier in its journal Labour Economics.

Volume (Year): 18 (2011)
Issue (Month): 1 (January)
Pages: 14-24

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Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:18:y:2011:i:1:p:14-24

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Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/labeco

Related research

Keywords: Child custody Child investment Intrahousehold resource allocation Private school Labor supply Household bargaining;

References

References listed on IDEAS
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Cited by:
  1. Rene Böheim & Marco Francesconi & Martin Halla, 2013. "Does Custody Law Affect Family Behavior In and Out of Marriage?," Department of Economics Working Papers wuwp149, Vienna University of Economics, Department of Economics.
  2. John M. Nunley & Richard Alan Seals Jr., 2011. "Child-Custody Reform and the Division of Labor in the Household," Auburn Economics Working Paper Series auwp2011-14, Department of Economics, Auburn University.

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