This paper studies the economic implications for mothers of the changes in child custody law from maternal preference to joint custody using the 1960–2000 Census Public Use Micro Sample (IPUMS). Variation in the timing of the joint custody reform across states provides a natural experimental framework to study the causal effect of shared custody on mothers’ economic outcomes. The results show that only single mothers experience a decrease in earnings as a consequence of the adoption of the joint custody law, exposing them to a higher risk of poverty. The paper discusses a possible explanation for these findings, namely that the higher child support payment the mother receives from the non-custodial father in case of joint custody might discourage her from looking for high paid jobs or investing in her career.

Vuri, D. (2018). Joint custody law and mothers' labor market outcomes: evidence from the USA. JOURNAL OF POPULATION ECONOMICS, 31(4), 1203-1237 [10.1007/s00148-017-0680-x].

Joint custody law and mothers' labor market outcomes: evidence from the USA

Vuri D
2018-01-01

Abstract

This paper studies the economic implications for mothers of the changes in child custody law from maternal preference to joint custody using the 1960–2000 Census Public Use Micro Sample (IPUMS). Variation in the timing of the joint custody reform across states provides a natural experimental framework to study the causal effect of shared custody on mothers’ economic outcomes. The results show that only single mothers experience a decrease in earnings as a consequence of the adoption of the joint custody law, exposing them to a higher risk of poverty. The paper discusses a possible explanation for these findings, namely that the higher child support payment the mother receives from the non-custodial father in case of joint custody might discourage her from looking for high paid jobs or investing in her career.
2018
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore SECS-P/02 - POLITICA ECONOMICA
English
Con Impact Factor ISI
Joint custody law · Bargaining · Difference in difference
Vuri, D. (2018). Joint custody law and mothers' labor market outcomes: evidence from the USA. JOURNAL OF POPULATION ECONOMICS, 31(4), 1203-1237 [10.1007/s00148-017-0680-x].
Vuri, D
Articolo su rivista
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
child custody in the US_JOPE2017.pdf

solo utenti autorizzati

Descrizione: articolo principale
Licenza: Copyright dell'editore
Dimensione 874.84 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
874.84 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/212156
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 3
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 3
social impact