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The Long-Term Effects of Unilateral Divorce Laws on the Noncognitive Skill of Conscientiousness

Author

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  • Hayduk Iryna

    (College of Business, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA, 30260-0285, USA)

  • Kleinjans Kristin J.

    (Department of Economics, College of Business and Economics, California State University, Fullerton, CA, 92834-6843, USA)

Abstract

This paper provides the first causal evidence of the effect of a change in divorce laws on noncognitive skills in adulthood. We exploit state-cohort variation in the adoption of unilateral divorce laws in the U.S. to assess whether children exposed to this law have different noncognitive skills in adulthood compared to those never exposed or exposed as adults. Using data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the U.S. (MIDUS) and employing the staggered difference-in-differences identification strategy developed by Callaway and Sant’Anna, we show that divorce reform had a detrimental long-term effect on the conscientiousness of those who were exposed as children whether their parents divorced or not. Changes in parental inputs can explain most of the effect, which is greatest for men whose parents divorced.

Suggested Citation

  • Hayduk Iryna & Kleinjans Kristin J., 2023. "The Long-Term Effects of Unilateral Divorce Laws on the Noncognitive Skill of Conscientiousness," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 23(4), pages 1137-1154, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bpj:bejeap:v:23:y:2023:i:4:p:1137-1154:n:6
    DOI: 10.1515/bejeap-2022-0365
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    Keywords

    noncognitive skills; unilateral divorce laws; conscientiousness; parenting style; MIDUS;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • K36 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Family and Personal Law

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