Divorce and the Economy
Ironically, many Americans believe marriage separations are becoming a thing of the past. Unfortunately, the minor deceleration in divorce rates can be explained by our current recession. As Chowdhury (2013) states, limited jobs and reduction of household incomes has drastically impacted the ability of married couples to separate (p. 260). How does this affect our current divorce rate? The present recession, which began in 2008, lowered house values and family incomes, thus, trapping unhappy couples together until a divorce is affordable (Chowdhury, p. 260). Therefore, recessions give the illusion of a declining divorce rate. In a survey conducted by Chowdhury, 38 percent of married couples analyzed had plans of divorce but decided to wait until it was more affordable (p. 256).
With that in mind, is a recession completely bad for marriages? Chowdhury (2013) believes economic depression may actually be beneficial to some couples (p. 256). In a survey of 1197 married Americans, Chowdhury concluded that 29 percent of those surveyed believed the current depression had strengthened their marriages (p. 256). This is because financial hardship may actually force some couples to focus on fixing their marriage in order to survive the recession. By finding what is important in a marriage, average American couples can strengthening their unity. If more of us followed this lesson, we too could strengthen our marriages and reduce the national divorce rate.
However, the future of this recession must be taken into consideration. Just as the winter snow melts in the spring, recessions give way to economic booms. Just as April showers bring May flowers, economic booms enable couples to seek divorce because of financial availability. Chowdhury (2013) reinforces this by stating, couples who experience unemployment or financial hardship are at greater risk of divorce especially after financial tension is released (p. 260). Furthermore, a brief economic relief in mid-2009 caused a spike in divorces that subsided after the recession once again took hold (Chowdhury, p. 260). We know the end of the recession is coming. It is up to us, the average Americans, to strive to break the boom-divorce trend.
With that in mind, is a recession completely bad for marriages? Chowdhury (2013) believes economic depression may actually be beneficial to some couples (p. 256). In a survey of 1197 married Americans, Chowdhury concluded that 29 percent of those surveyed believed the current depression had strengthened their marriages (p. 256). This is because financial hardship may actually force some couples to focus on fixing their marriage in order to survive the recession. By finding what is important in a marriage, average American couples can strengthening their unity. If more of us followed this lesson, we too could strengthen our marriages and reduce the national divorce rate.
However, the future of this recession must be taken into consideration. Just as the winter snow melts in the spring, recessions give way to economic booms. Just as April showers bring May flowers, economic booms enable couples to seek divorce because of financial availability. Chowdhury (2013) reinforces this by stating, couples who experience unemployment or financial hardship are at greater risk of divorce especially after financial tension is released (p. 260). Furthermore, a brief economic relief in mid-2009 caused a spike in divorces that subsided after the recession once again took hold (Chowdhury, p. 260). We know the end of the recession is coming. It is up to us, the average Americans, to strive to break the boom-divorce trend.