CLICK HERE FOR RESEARCH: In order to identify the causal effect of joint custody on different family outcomes Martin Halla exploits the variation occurring from the different timing of reforms across the US states.
Halla finds that Joint Custody produces the following outcomes:
- an increase in marriage rates,
- an increase in overall fertility (including a shift from non-marital to marital fertility),
- an increase in divorce rates for older couples.
- female labor market participation decreased.
- a decrease in suicide rates (especially male)
- a decrease in domestic violence in treated states.
- an increase in men's incentive to marry.
Halla concludes:
"the results might be interesting for policy-makers, who typically worry about the decline in marriage rates, and intend to encourage marriage, marital fertility and to prevent divorce."
