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Maternal Education, Divorce, and Changes in Economic Resources: Evidence from Germany

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  • Liliya Leopold
  • Thomas Leopold

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of divorce on educational gaps in mothers’ economic resources. The results shed new light on two opposing theoretical positions that have informed research on social inequality in the consequences of divorce. Recent extensions of the “diverging destinies” perspective posit that divorce is more consequential among the disadvantaged than among the privileged. The notion of “divorce as an equalizer” posits the reverse. Based on data from the German SOEP, we estimated correlated random-effects models to examine educational gaps in divorce-related changes of mothers’ household income and risk of poverty. The results are inconsistent with the diverging destinies perspective, as educational gaps in mothers’ economic resources did not widen after divorce. Instead, we found partial support for the competing notion of divorce as an equalizer, as higher educated mothers experienced larger declines in household income. Educational gaps in the risk of poverty remained constant.

Suggested Citation

  • Liliya Leopold & Thomas Leopold, 2016. "Maternal Education, Divorce, and Changes in Economic Resources: Evidence from Germany," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 836, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp836
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Kandyce Larson & Neal Halfon, 2013. "Parental divorce and adult longevity," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(1), pages 89-97, February.
    5. Fabrizio Bernardi & Jonas Radl, 2014. "The long-term consequences of parental divorce for children’s educational attainment," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 30(61), pages 1653-1680.
    6. Sara Mclanahan, 2004. "Diverging destinies: How children are faring under the second demographic transition," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 41(4), pages 607-627, November.
    7. Gert G. Wagner & Joachim R. Frick & Jürgen Schupp, 2007. "The German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) – Scope, Evolution and Enhancements," Schmollers Jahrbuch : Journal of Applied Social Science Studies / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 127(1), pages 139-169.
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    Cited by:

    1. Antonio L. Pérez-Corral & Almudena Moreno Mínguez, 2022. "Single-Parent Families, Educational Gradient, and Child Deprivation: The Cases of Italy and Spain," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(5), pages 1821-1846, October.

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