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Teenage Daughters as a Cause of Divorce

Author

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  • Jan Kabátek

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, The University of Melbourne; ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course; IZA Institute of Labor Economists; CentER, Tilburg University; and Netspar)

  • David C. Ribar

    (Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, The University of Melbourne; ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course; IZA Institute of Labor Economists)

Abstract

Evidence from the U.S. that couples with daughters are more likely to divorce than couples with sons has not been found for other Western countries. Using 1995-2015 Dutch marriage registry data, we show that daughters are associated with higher divorce risks, but only when they are 13 to 18 years old. There are no detectable gender differences before or after those ages. These age-specific findings are at odds with son-preference and selection explanations for differences in divorce risks. Instead, the findings point to explanations which involve family relationship dynamics associated with teenage sons and daughters. We find supporting evidence of relationship explanations in supplemental analyses of Dutch survey data. We also find that teenage daughters are associated with higher divorce in the U.S. in analyses of the Current Population Survey Marriage and Fertility Supplements.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Kabátek & David C. Ribar, 2017. "Teenage Daughters as a Cause of Divorce," Melbourne Institute Working Paper Series wp2017n26, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne.
    • Handle: RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2017n26
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Moffitt, Robert A. & Ribar, David C., 2018. "Child age and gender differences in food security in a low-income U.S. inner-city population," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 23-41.
    2. Takaku, Reo, 2018. "First daughter effects in Japan," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 48-59.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Marriage; divorce; gender; son preference; Netherlands; registry data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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