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Stealing within Marriage: Differences across Divorce Laws

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  • Hanlon Michael

    (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington)

Abstract

I consider individuals’ incentive to engage in Pareto inefficient behavior towards their spouse, which I envision as stealing within marriage. Under unilateral divorce, I predict this incentive is lower for some individuals, and higher for no one. Therefore, the incentive to steal within marriage is lower, in aggregate. Empirically, I find unilateral states have 80% more marriage and family therapists, ceteris paribus. If therapists are a mechanism to reduce stealing within marriage, then this evidence is consistent with the theory.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanlon Michael, 2012. "Stealing within Marriage: Differences across Divorce Laws," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 8(1), pages 161-179, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:rlecon:v:8:y:2012:i:1:n:7
    DOI: 10.1515/1555-5879.1595
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    References listed on IDEAS

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