The Dispatch Podcast
Worried About Inequality? Fix Marriage.
Oct 9, 2023
Economics professor Melissa Kearney discusses her book on the decline of marriage in America, its impact on inequality, and controversial policy matters. Topics include the relationship between marriage, education, and income inequality, trends in marriage and their impact on children, and the surprising findings of a study on localized fracking booms and birth rates.
40:47
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Quick takeaways
- The decline in parents getting married has contributed to increased inequality and negatively impacted parents and children, particularly among adults without college degrees.
- Marriage rates differ across social classes, with college-educated mothers more likely to be married, highlighting the connection between marriage and income inequality.
Deep dives
The Decline in Marriage and Rise in Single Parenthood
The podcast discusses the decline in marriage among parents and the corresponding increase in single parenthood. The speaker highlights that the decline in parents getting married is linked to a broader decline in marriage overall, especially among adults without college degrees. The share of children born to unmarried parents has increased significantly, with 40% of babies in the US now born to unmarried parents compared to 18% in 1980.
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