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Gender and cash child support in Jamaica

Author

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  • Brenda Wyss

    (Department of Economics, Wheaton College, Norton, MA 02766, USA; Tel.: + 1-508-286-3665; fax: + 1-508-286-3650. bwyss@wheatonma.edu)

Abstract

Nonresident parents pay a small proportion of the total pecuniary costs of raising children in Jamaica. This paper uses household survey data to identify conditions that promote cash support by absent parents. The paper highlights several ways in which gender influences Jamaican child support decisions. Absent fathers contribute cash support more consistently than absent mothers do, and absent fathers support their daughters more consistently than they support sons. Gendered norms of resource transfer in adult relationships help explain low levels of paternal support for children. But results from Jamaica cast doubt on the argument that male poverty explains most paternal default on child support obligations.

Suggested Citation

  • Brenda Wyss, 2001. "Gender and cash child support in Jamaica," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 33(4), pages 415-439, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:33:y:2001:i:4:p:415-439
    DOI: 10.1177/048661340103300404
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

    Jamaica; Child support; Gender;
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