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The changing educational gradient in marital disruption: A meta-analysis of European longitudinal research

Author

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  • Anna Matysiak
  • Marta Styrc
  • Daniele Vignoli

    (Institute of Statistics and Demography, Warsaw School of Economics, Department of Statistics, University of Florence)

Abstract

A large number of empirical studies have investigated the role of education in the changes in union dissolution in Europe, but these studies have so far produced inconsistent results. This paper seeks to assess the relationship between educational attainment and the incidence of marital dissolution by systematizing the existing empirical evidence on the topic. To this end, we have conducted a quantitative literature review (a meta-analysis). This review allowed us to assess the relationship in a quantitative manner and to investigate its temporal change, net of the across-study differences. Our results illustrated that a reversal in the educational gradient from positive to negative has occurred over time. The findings also showed that the change in the educational gradient was happening in parallel to an increase in access to divorce. Finally, the findings suggested that women’s empowerment has played a greater role in explaining the changing educational gradient of divorce than the liberalization of divorce laws.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Matysiak & Marta Styrc & Daniele Vignoli, 2011. "The changing educational gradient in marital disruption: A meta-analysis of European longitudinal research," Working Papers 45, Institute of Statistics and Demography, Warsaw School of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:isd:wpaper:45
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12182/1243
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fabrizio Bernardi & Jonas Radl, 2014. "The long-term consequences of parental divorce for children’s educational attainment," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 30(61), pages 1653-1680.
    2. James Raymo & Miho Iwasawa & Setsuya Fukuda, 2013. "Educational Differences in Divorce in Japan," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 28(6), pages 177-206.
    3. Liat Raz-Yurovich, 2012. "Economic Determinants of Divorce Among Dual-Earner Couples: Jews in Israel [Les déterminants économiques du divorce parmi les couples à double revenu : le cas des juifs en Israël]," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 28(2), pages 177-203, May.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    divorce; education; socioeconomic status; meta-analysis; marriage; social change.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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