Divorce Rates Temporarily Fall During Times of Recession

 Posted on November 25, 2012 in Family Law

The Star Tribune is reporting that a new study out of Marquette University shows a correlation between the national divorce rate and the Great Recession. The study concludes that while the Great Recession saw a rapid decrease in the national divorce rate in its early years, this period of economic hardship did not result in a permanent decrease. Rather, as the economy began to slowly recover in more recent years, divorce rates again increased. In other words, while the poor economy may have forced some marriages to remain intact out of necessity, these same couples still ultimately divorced once economic hardships eased.

More specifically, the national divorce rate rose from 16.4 per 1,000 married women in 2005 to 17.5 per 1,000 married women in 2007, the rate then fell to 16.9 per 1,000 married women in 2008. The moral of this story is that while economics can force a couple to remain in the same household or in a unhappy marriage for purely financial reasons, as soon as finances improve, the divorce will inevitably occur. A poor economy, then, cannot forestall or prevent an impending divorce forever, although it may be able to delay the proceedings for some period of time.

As the economy continues to improve in marginal increments, more and more people may begin to consider divorce as a solution to ongoing marital problems. Increased job opportunities and less financial stress can motivate one spouse or another to take the steps necessary in order to initiate divorce proceedings that may have been brewing for some time. If you are now in a position where you are contemplating divorce, you should be sure to contact a skilled and knowledgeable Bloomingdale, Illinois divorce attorney about your situation. With the help of an attorney, you can get a full assessment of your case and get advice about how to best proceed in your situation.