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Social modernization and the increase in the divorce rate
Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics : JITE = Zeitschrift Fur Die Gesamte Staatswissenschaft
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Rising divorce rates in industrialized societies are linked to decreased social embeddedness, impacting marital stability. This micro-model explains divorce risk and women's labor market participation dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Economics
- Family Studies
Background:
- Modern industrialized societies exhibit increasing divorce rates.
- Traditional social structures that previously supported marital stability are eroding.
- Understanding the micro-level dynamics of marital interactions is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a micro-model of marital interactions.
- To analyze factors influencing divorce rates in industrialized societies.
- To explain the role of social embeddedness and external alternatives.
Main Methods:
- Development of a micro-model focusing on marital gain production and mutual control.
- Analysis of "assurance game" dynamics in marital relationships.
- Examination of "production functions" of marriages and adaptation periods.
Main Results:
- Increased divorce rates correlate with decreased institutional and social embeddedness.
- Marital risk is shaped by changes in marriage "production functions" during adaptation.
- Inconsistent findings on women's labor market participation are explained by interaction effects.
Conclusions:
- Declining social embeddedness is a key driver of rising divorce rates.
- Marital stability is influenced by the interplay of internal marital dynamics and external societal factors.
- The model provides a framework for understanding contemporary family and labor market interactions.