Kessler, Dorian; Hevenstone, Debra; Vandecasteele, Leen; Sepahniya, Samin (2022). Weathering the storm together: Does unemployment insurance help couples avoid divorce? Journal of European Social Policy, 33(2), pp. 248-263. Sage Publications 10.1177/09589287221141363
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This study examines whether unemployment insurance benefit generosity impacts divorce, drawing on full population administrative data and a Swiss reform that reduced unemployment insurance maximum benefit duration. We assess the effect of the reform by comparing the pre- to the post-reform change in divorce rates among unemployed individuals that were affected by the reform with the change in divorce rates among a statistically balanced group of unemployed individuals that was not affected by the reform. Difference-in-differences estimates suggest that the reform caused a 2.8 percentage point increase in divorce (a 25% increase). Effects were concentrated among low-income couples (+58%) and couples with an unemployed husband (+32%) though gender differences are attributable to men’s breadwinner status. Female main breadwinners were more strongly affected (+78%) than male main breadwinners (+40%). Results confirm the “family stress model” which posits that job search and financial stress cause marital conflict. Policymakers should consider a broad array of impacts, including divorce, when considering reductions in unemployment insurance generosity.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
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Division/Institute: |
School of Social Work > Institute for Social Security and Social Policy School of Social Work |
Name: |
Kessler, Dorian; Hevenstone, Debra; Vandecasteele, Leen and Sepahniya, Samin |
Subjects: |
H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman |
ISSN: |
0958-9287 |
Publisher: |
Sage Publications |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Dorian Kessler |
Date Deposited: |
21 Jun 2022 15:59 |
Last Modified: |
09 Apr 2023 01:36 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.1177/09589287221141363 |
ARBOR DOI: |
10.24451/arbor.17106 |
URI: |
https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/17106 |
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