Short- and long-term economic consequences of the dissolution of marital and consensual unions. The example of the Netherlands
Many studies have shown the dramatic gender-specific economic consequences of divorce, but there are almost none that describe the economic implications of dissolving a consensual union. The present study confirms results of many other studies that divorced women are more economically disadvantaged than men, but it also reveals that ex-cohabiting women experience a smaller decline than divorced women in their economic situation shortly after the dissolution of the union.
For men who had previously been part of a cohabiting arrangement, their post-dissolution economic situation, like that of women who had been cohabiting, was worse than their situation before the break-up. On the basis of Statistics Netherlands’ Income Panel Study 1989-2000, this research reveals that the decline in economic situation persists for some time, at least for a number of years or in the long term. The economic differences between divorced men and women become smaller. Gender-specific economic differences almost disappear for ex-cohabiters over time. In the long run, individuals who do not find a new partner suffer the most, especially divorced women. About one-fifth or one-third of all men and women do not find new partners in the 10 years following divorce or dissolution.
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Specifications
- Publication title
- Short- and long-term economic consequences of the dissolution of marital and consensual unions. The example of the Netherlands
- Publication date
- 28 September 2006
- Publication type
- Publication
- Magazine
- European Sociological Review; 22(4); 413-429
- Product number
- 91806