This article examines alternative approaches to encourage family formation among fragile families, including higher cash benefits, more liberal acceptance of welfare applications, more effective child support enforcement, and efforts to increase education and employment of low-income parents. We examine these approaches by refining and expanding previous work on a generalized logit model of the mothers’ […]

Contents– Section One : Why Marriage? — One man’s opinion — Preserving your treasure — Love really does conquer all — Making love last — Deconstructing domestic violence — Section Two : We Want Better For Our Children — Reaching our youth — Abstinence education for young men — Charity begins at home — Section […]

Nonmarital childbearing is important because it is increasing and because there is concern (and some evidence) that it is damaging to children and perhaps parents as well. We refer to the unions of unwed parents as fragile families because they are similar to traditional families in many respects, but more vulnerable. Most people believe that […]

Contents: Chapter 1. — Marriage as Sacrament in the Roman Catholic tradition — Chapter 2. — Marriage as Social Estate in the Lutheran Reformation — Chapter 3. — Marriage as Covenant in the Calvinist Tradition — Chapter 4. — Marriage as Commonwealth in the Anglican Tradition — Chapter 5. — Marriage as Contract in the […]

In this paper we use data from a new survey of unmarried parents – the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Survey – which interviews parents shortly after birth. The survey collects information from both mothers and fathers on a wide range of topics, including parents’ relationship, attitudes toward marriage and parenthood, parents’ human capital, and […]

The vast majority of all Americans desire happy, lasting marriages, whether rich or poor, male or female, and no matter what sub-culture they live within. There is ample evidence that individuals, as well as the society at large, benefit when those citizens who choose marriage for themselves are able to maintain healthy marriages. It is […]

A checklist of issues to be addressed and considered prior to marriage.

When it comes to the great problems facing our society as a result of marital distress and divorce, there is a legitimate tension between the desire to know more and the desire to act now. Do we wait until more research better informs our efforts, or move forward with the best of what we now […]

Stark and 50 married women tell their stories — showing others how to transition from the single life to married life.

There is mounting research evidence that trends of increasing marital and family instability are negatively impacting children, adults, families, and communities. The research is clear: healthy relationships and healthy marriages, and resulting family stability, benefit the physical, social, and emotional well-being of adults and children as well as the community. The Cooperative Extension Service (CES) […]