How does a financial downturn affect divorces among couples? Slate reports:

• One would think that the increased financial strain would lead to more marital discord and thus higher rates of divorce. However the opposite is seen with states that have a higher unemployment rate having lower rates of divorce.
• This might be because getting a divorce is expensive.
• This might also explain why the divorce rate has increased as GDP per capita has increased – people increasingly have the resources to escape from dysfunctional marriages.
• Does this mean that there’ll be a surge in divorces once the economy recovers? Perhaps, but there should also be a surge in marriages as couples who were unable to get married finally have the opportunity to wed each other.

To read more about the economics of divorce as well as what this means for America’s political system click here.

Source: Slate