Child Support and the Postdivorce Economic Well-Being of Mothers, Fathers, and Children

Abstract

This paper provides recent national estimates of the short-term economic outcomes of marital dissolution for mothers, fathers, and children. In addition, the paper estimates the current and potential impact of private child support transfers on the economic well-being of the various parties involved. Data are from the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Mothers and children fare dramatically worse than fathers; however, these differences would be much more pronounced in the absence of private child support. Substantial increases in custodial family income are possible within the structure of the existing child support system, with minimal impact on poverty among nonresident fathers.