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Patterns of child support debt accumulation

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  • Kim, Yeongmin
  • Cancian, Maria
  • Meyer, Daniel R.

Abstract

Despite efforts to strengthen child support enforcement over the past decades, the level of unpaid child support remains high. High child support arrears create problems for families and states; however, our understanding of how arrears accumulate is limited. Using longitudinal data from Wisconsin administrative records for noncustodial fathers, this article examines patterns of the evolution of child support arrears. We develop a scheme to categorize long-term arrears changes and identify six typical trajectories of arrears evolution that distinguish the timing and pattern of changes in debt. We conclude with the implications of the results for child support policy and research.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Yeongmin & Cancian, Maria & Meyer, Daniel R., 2015. "Patterns of child support debt accumulation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 87-94.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:51:y:2015:i:c:p:87-94
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.01.017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maria Cancian & Daniel R. Meyer & Emma Caspar, 2008. "Welfare and child support: Complements, not substitutes," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(2), pages 354-375.
    2. Maureen R Waller & Robert Plotnick, 2001. "Effective child support policy for low-income families: evidence from street level research," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(1), pages 89-110.
    3. Maria Cancian & Carolyn J. Heinrich & Yiyoon Chung, 2013. "Discouraging Disadvantaged Fathers’ Employment: An Unintended Consequence of Policies Designed to Support Families," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(4), pages 758-784, September.
    4. Huang, Chien-Chung & Han, Ke-Qing, 2012. "Child support enforcement in the United States: Has policy made a difference?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 622-627.
    5. Carolyn J. Heinrich & Brett C. Burkhardt & Hilary M. Shager, 2011. "Reducing child support debt and its consequences: Can forgiveness benefit all?," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(4), pages 755-774, September.
    6. Yoonsook Ha & Maria Cancian & Daniel R. Meyer, 2010. "Unchanging child support orders in the face of unstable earnings," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(4), pages 799-820.
    7. Cassetty, Judith H. & Hutson, Royce, 2005. "Effectiveness of federal incentives in shaping child support enforcement outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 271-289, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Meyer, Daniel R. & Riser, Quentin H., 2023. "Slowing the ‘vicious cycle’: Reducing the interest rate on child support arrears," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    2. Hodges, Leslie, 2020. "Do low-income parents who receive unemployment insurance pay more child support?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).

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