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Child Support Transfers under Family Complexity

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  • Terry-Ann L. Craigie

    (Princeton University)

Abstract

When parents engage in childbearing with more than one partner or multi-partnered fertility, this gives rise to a complex family system with strong implications for transfers to children. This study therefore seeks to measure the effect of multi-partnered fertility on formal and informal child support transfers, specifically to non-marital children. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), the study goes beyond previous works by attempting to isolate causal effects of male and female multi-partnered fertility. I find that in general, the probability of receiving formal and/or informal child support contributions decline as the number of children a parent has with more than one partner rises. The study confirms a causal adverse effect of male multi-partnered fertility on receiving any child support payments. These findings underscore the need to revisit child support policies for complex families.

Suggested Citation

  • Terry-Ann L. Craigie, 2010. "Child Support Transfers under Family Complexity," Working Papers 1276, Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing..
    • Handle: RePEc:pri:crcwel:wp10-15-ff.pdf
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    File URL: https://fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/sites/fragilefamilies/files/wp10-15-ff.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Laura Tach, 2012. "Family Complexity, Childbearing, and Parenting Stress: A Comparison of Mothers' and Fathers' Experiences," Working Papers 1425, Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs, Center for Research on Child Wellbeing..
    2. Berger, Lawrence M. & Cancian, Maria & Meyer, Daniel R., 2012. "Maternal re-partnering and new-partner fertility: Associations with nonresident father investments in children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(2), pages 426-436.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    multi-partnered fertility; child support payments; childbearing; fertility; Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J - Labor and Demographic Economics
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure

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