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Child Support: Responsible Fatherhood and the Quid Pro Quo

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Cancian

    (Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Daniel R. Meyer

    (Institute for Research on Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Eunhee Han

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Abstract

Over time, public policy changes have strengthened the private child support system while reducing access to public support—welfare. Given the especially limited availability of public support, nonresident fathers’ economic contributions through child support can play an important role in helping children to avoid poverty. In this article, the authors review evidence on nonresident fathers’ ability to pay support, provide an overview of the way child support policies affect disadvantaged fathers, and propose new directions for child support policy. The authors argue that the current work-focused safety net, which aims to require and help to enable disadvantaged mothers to work, creates a context in which government should similarly require and help to enable all fathers, even those who are disadvantaged, to work and pay child support. However, reforms are needed to make this a realistic expectation, given many fathers’ limited employment options and complex families.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Cancian & Daniel R. Meyer & Eunhee Han, 2011. "Child Support: Responsible Fatherhood and the Quid Pro Quo," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 635(1), pages 140-162, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:635:y:2011:i:1:p:140-162
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716210393640
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anne Case & I-Fen Lin & Sara Mclanahan, 2003. "Explaining trends in child support: Economic, demographic, and policy effects," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 40(1), pages 171-189, February.
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    4. 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.
    5. Lenna Nepomnyaschy, 2007. "Child support and father-child contact: Testing reciprocal pathways," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 44(1), pages 93-112, February.
    6. Daniel R. Meyer & Maria Cancian & Kisun Nam, 2007. "Welfare and child support program knowledge gaps reduce program effectiveness," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(3), pages 575-598.
    7. Elaine Sorensen & Ariel Hill, 2004. "Single Mothers and Their Child-Support Receipt: How Well Is Child-Support Enforcement Doing?," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 39(1).
    8. Maureen A. Pirog & Kathleen M. Ziol-Guest, 2006. "Child support enforcement: Programs and policies, impacts and questions," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(4), pages 943-990.
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    10. Marilyn Sinkewicz & Irwin Garfinkel, 2009. "Unwed fathers’ ability to pay child support: New estimates accounting for multiple-partner fertility," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 46(2), pages 247-263, May.
    11. Lauren M. Rich & Irwin Garfinkel & Qin Gao, 2007. "Child support enforcement policy and unmarried fathers' employment in the underground and regular economies," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 791-810.
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    13. Judi Bartfeld, 2000. "Child support and the postdivorce economic well-being of mothers, fathers, and children," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 37(2), pages 203-213, May.
    14. Rich, Lauren M., 2001. "Regular and irregular earnings of unwed fathers: Implications for child support practices," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 23(4-5), pages 353-376.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Yoonsook Ha & Maria Cancian & Daniel R. Meyer, 2018. "Child Support and Income Inequality," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(2), pages 147-158, June.
    2. Maria Cancian & Daniel R. Meyer & Deborah Reed, 2010. "Promising Antipoverty Strategies for Families," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 2(3), pages 151-169, August.

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