Multiple-Father Fertility and Arrest Rates

Across the United States, two phenomena have emerged: high rates of multi-partnered fertility (having children by more than one partner) and high rates of male involvement with the criminal justice system. This paper is a first step in an exploration of the possible connection between these two phenomena. The first part of the paper provides nationally representative estimates of the prevalence of multi-partnered fertility among mothers during the 1985-1996 period, for the overall population and for select subgroups. These estimates, based on the SIPP surveys, constitute a useful addition to the literature, which contains very few estimates of women's multi-partnered fertility or its evolution over time. In the second part of the paper, we combine MSA-level data on arrest rates (constructed from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports) with SIPP’s family structure data, in order to explore the association between the rate of multiple-father fertility and local arrest rates. Over time and across MSAs, we observe a positive correlation between the probability that a mother has had children by more than one man and the lagged arrest rate in her MSA. The correlation is stronger among racial and educational subgroups that experience higher rates of multiple-father fertility.multipartnered fertility; family structure; arrest rates; Uniform Crime Reports;

Multiple-Father Fertility and Welfare

In the United States, multi-partnered fertility (MPF) has become commonplace. This study provides the first nationally representative measures of women’s MPF, across multiple years, using the U.S. Census Bureau’s Surveys of Income and Program Participation. Because welfare rules contain strong incentives for MPF, and because MPF is especially common among welfare recipients, we also examine the relationship between welfare and MPF. Focusing on the pre-TANF period 1985 to 1996, when welfare rules were more comparable across states and the absence of time limits made the incentives for MPF larger, we find little behavioral response. Among low-income mothers, MPF does not appear to be driven by program design. Because the incentives were relatively large and reached well up the income distribution, our findings amplify those of earlier studies that show little demographic response to antipoverty programs, and invite reconsideration of how much these incentives should constrain transfer programs that target children

Multiple-Father Fertility and Arrest Rates

Across the United States, two phenomena have emerged: high rates of multi-partnered fertility (having children by more than one partner) and high rates of male involvement with the criminal justice system. This paper is a first step in an exploration of the possible connection between these two phenomena. The first part of the paper provides nationally representative estimates of the prevalence of multi-partnered fertility among mothers during the 1985-1996 period, for the overall population and for select subgroups. These estimates, based on the SIPP surveys, constitute a useful addition to the literature, which contains very few estimates of women's multi-partnered fertility or its evolution over time. In the second part of the paper, we combine MSA-level data on arrest rates (constructed from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports) with SIPP’s family structure data, in order to explore the association between the rate of multiple-father fertility and local arrest rates. Over time and across MSAs, we observe a positive correlation between the probability that a mother has had children by more than one man and the lagged arrest rate in her MSA. The correlation is stronger among racial and educational subgroups that experience higher rates of multiple-father fertility

Women's multiple-partner fertility in the United States: Prevalence, correlates and trends, 1985-2008

This study provides the first current, nationally representative estimate of the prevalence of multipartnered fertility among American women, as a whole and within subgroups. We also chart trends in behavior from 1985 through 2008. Our estimates are derived from the household relationship matrices found in 12 panels of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation spanning this period. Contrary to expectations, there was no upward trend in multipartnered fertility over those 23 years for the population as a whole. While trends within subgroups did emerge, they tended to offset each other

A Sibling Study of Stepchild Well-being

Examining 33 indicators of well-being from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we conclude that stepchildren’ s inferior outcomes are not entirely explained by sample selection. Using sibling comparisons to control for unobserved family characteristics, we identify stepparent effects by comparing half-siblings in families in which one child has both parents and the other a parent and stepparent. Most estimated effects retain their sign after differencing across siblings, and a third remain statistically significant. The estimates’ sensitivity to the choice of indicator suggests that studies based on a single measure of child wellbeing may be misleading.

Women's multiple-partner fertility in the United States: Prevalence, correlates and trends, 1985-2008

This study provides the first current, nationally representative estimate of the prevalence of multipartnered fertility among American women, as a whole and within subgroups. We also chart trends in behavior from 1985 through 2008. Our estimates are derived from the household relationship matrices found in 12 panels of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation spanning this period. Contrary to expectations, there was no upward trend in multipartnered fertility over those 23 years for the population as a whole. While trends within subgroups did emerge, they tended to offset each other.multipartnered fertility; multiple-father fertility; Survey of Income and Program Participation; SIPP;

Is the Wicked Stepmother Just a Fairytale?

Most studies of family structure and child outcomes conclude that stepchildren fare little better than children in single-parent families, and substantially worse than children in intact families. Is this because adults treat biological children differently from stepchildren, or are stepchildren's inferior outcomes "explained" by selection into stepfamilies? To address this question we examine a rich array of child outcomes and parental investment measures drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Sibling comparisons control for unobserved parental and household characteristics, and the effect of living with a stepparent is identified by comparing outcomes across half-siblings in households in which one child is living with both biological parents and the other is living with their common parent and a stepparent. The results support the differential-treatment hypothesis. Despite the radical reduction in sample size associated with differencing across siblings, a third of the stepparent effects remain statistically significant. Over four-fifths of the point estimates retain their sign after differencing, and as many increase as shrink. Selection bias may be present in stepparent effects measured between families, but in the Add Health data the bias is as likely to be negative as positive. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the results to the choice of indicator suggests that the story cannot be told in full by studies focusing on only one or two indicators.

Trade-offs implicit in child-support guidelines

Recent U.S. federal legislation required states to establish mandatory judicial guidelines for the setting of child-support awards. An equivalence-based approach is used to compare three formulae (two in use, one proposed) to three theoretical benchmarks, to clarify unavoidable trade-offs in the choice of a guideline. Generally, the formulae in use leave children worse off economically than would the benchmark formulae. Since the economic well-being of children cannot be separated from that of their custodial parent, that which most privileges children's welfare will usually privilege the custodial parent over the absent parent, and what appears more fair between the two adults may be less favorable to the children. Another possible trade-off is between children's welfare and work incentives: The guidelines that prescribe larger awards are those with higher implied marginal tax rates. Despite their work disincentive effects, the formulae with higher marginal tax rates are more favorable to children's economic interests.