Get educated, stay married

We have made it too easy to get a divorce in this and a lot of other societies, which is one of the reasons why there are so many. At least it’s getting more attention though, which is one of the ways to turn that harmful trend around.

A recent study shows that no-fault divorce leads to a 10-percent increase in the divorce rate and that divorce is dropping among college graduates.

The study was released by the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy. The institute’s founder, Maggie Gallagher, shared the results of the study she coauthored with Douglas Allen in an interview with Newsweek. The interview is featured in the July 23 edition of the magazine.

(Which is here.)

Gallagher and Allen examined every empirical study of no-fault-divorce rates in the U.S. and abroad. They found that in 17 of the 24 studies, the divorce rate increases in the first 20 years after no-fault divorce is legalized. Furthermore, she says, “there is a long-term increase in divorce rates after no-fault laws are implemented, most [of the reports say it’s] between 5 and 30 percent.”

We need to make it easier to stay married. It’s certainly healthier for society.

Marriage is important, says Gallagher, because it protects children. “Children born inside a marriage have all sorts of financial and psychological advantages,” she adds.

That’s to name just one of the reasons marriage is important. These folks have dedicated their blog – and a good deal of their personal time – to helping couples stay married. That’s why I went to them for input on this story.