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Why do intimate partners live apart? Evidence on LAT relationships across Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Aart C. Liefbroer

    (Nederlands Interdisciplinair Demografisch Instituut (NIDI))

  • Anne-Rigt Poortman

    (Universiteit Utrecht)

  • Judith Seltzer

    (University of California, Los Angeles)

Abstract

Background: Most research asks whether or not cohabitation has come to rival marriage. Little is known about the meaning of living apart together (LAT) relationships, and whether LAT is an alternative to marriage and cohabitation or a dating relationship. Objective: We examine across Europe: (1) the prevalence of LAT, (2) the reasons for LAT, and (3) the correlates of (a) LAT relationships vis-à-vis being single, married, or cohabiting, and (b) different types of LAT union. Methods: Using Generations and Gender Survey data from ten Western and Eastern European countries, we present descriptive statistics about LATs and estimate multinominal logistic regression models to assess the correlates of being in different types of LAT unions. Results: LAT relationships are uncommon, but they are more common in Western than Eastern Europe. Most people in LAT unions intend to live together but are apart for practical reasons. LAT is more common among young people, those enrolled in higher education, people with liberal attitudes, highly educated people, and those who have previously cohabited or been married. Older people and divorced or widowed persons are more likely to choose LAT to maintain independence. Surprisingly, attitudinal and educational differences are more pronounced in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe. Conclusions: A tentative conclusion is that LAT is more often a stage in the union formation process than an alternative to marriage and cohabitation. Yet some groups do view LAT as substituting for marriage and cohabitation, and these groups differ between East and West. In Eastern Europe a cultural, highly educated elite seems to be the first to resist traditional marriage norms and embrace LAT (and cohabitation) as alternative living arrangements, whereas this is less the case in Western Europe. In Western Europe, LAT unions are mainly an alternative for persons who have been married before or had children in a prior relationship.

Suggested Citation

  • Aart C. Liefbroer & Anne-Rigt Poortman & Judith Seltzer, 2015. "Why do intimate partners live apart? Evidence on LAT relationships across Europe," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 32(8), pages 251-286.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:32:y:2015:i:8
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2015.32.8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Sandra Krapf, 2018. "Moving in or Breaking Up? The Role of Distance in the Development of Romantic Relationships," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 34(3), pages 313-336, August.
    2. Ryohei Mogi & Ryota Mugiyama & Giammarco Alderotti, 2022. "Employment uncertainty and non-coresidential partnership in very-low fertility countries: Italy and Japan," Econometrics Working Papers Archive 2022_07, Universita' degli Studi di Firenze, Dipartimento di Statistica, Informatica, Applicazioni "G. Parenti".
    3. Stefan Mauritz & Michael Wagner, 2021. "LAT relationships: A new living arrangement among the oldest old population in Germany?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 44(14), pages 349-362.
    4. Sandra Krapf & Clara H. Mulder & Michael Wagner, 2022. "The Transition to a Coresidential Partnership: Who Moves and Who Has the Partner Move In?," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(2), pages 757-779, April.
    5. Christine Schnor, 2015. "Does waiting pay off for couples? Partnership duration prior to household formation and union stability," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 33(22), pages 611-652.
    6. Daniela Bellani & Gøsta Esping-Andersen & Lesia Nedoluzhko, 2017. "Never partnered: A multilevel analysis of lifelong singlehood," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 37(4), pages 53-100.
    7. Alessandra De Rose & Eleonora Meli, 2022. "Still believe it? an analysis of partnership trajectories after first union dissolution in Italy," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 76(1), pages 169-183, January-M.
    8. Carole Bonnet & Fanny Godet & Anne Solaz, 2019. "Gendered economic determinants of couple formation over 50 in France," Working Papers G2019/13, French Institute for Demographic Studies.
    9. Anne-Rigt Poortman & Belinda Hewitt, 2017. "Editorial for Special Collection on New Relationships from a Comparative Perspective," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 37(2), pages 13-24.
    10. Inge Pasteels & Vicky Lyssens-Danneboom & Dimitri Mortelmans, 2017. "A Life Course Perspective on Living Apart Together: Meaning and Incidence Across Europe," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 130(2), pages 799-817, January.
    11. Arnaud Régnier-Loilier & Daniele Vignoli, 2018. "The diverse nature of living apart together relationships: an Italy–France comparison," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 1-22, March.
    12. Nevena, Kulic & Giulia, Dotti Sani, 2015. "Intra-household sharing of financial resources: A non-technical review of the research field and its historical development," MPRA Paper 68420, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Alisa C. Lewin, 2018. "Intentions to Live Together Among Couples Living Apart: Differences by Age and Gender," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 34(5), pages 721-743, December.
    14. Barbara Elisabeth Fulda, 2016. "The diversity in longitudinal partnership trajectories during the transition to adulthood: How is it related to individual characteristics and regional living conditions?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(37), pages 1101-1134.
    15. Arnaud Régnier-Loilier, 2016. "Partnership trajectories of people in stable non-cohabiting relationships in France," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 35(40), pages 1169-1212.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Europe; households; living apart together (LAT); GGS; partner relationships;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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