Study: States With Tougher Child Support Laws Have Fewer Unwed Births

[mom cat]

Study: States With Tougher Child Support Laws Have Fewer Unwed Births

By Rebecca Cook Associated Press Writer
Published: Jun 18, 2005

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB63FH44AE.html




SEATTLE (AP) - Tough child support laws may dissuade men from becoming unwed fathers, as states with the most stringent laws and strict enforcement have up to 20 percent fewer out-of-wedlock births, a new study shows.
Researchers at the University of Washington and Columbia University said Friday that child support laws' power to reduce single parenthood is an unintended consequence of a policy designed to help children and cut public welfare costs.

"Often the unintended effects are bad, so it's refreshing to see that," said lead study author Robert Plotnick, a University of Washington professor of public affairs. "Women living in states that do a better job of enforcing child support are less likely to become an unwed mother."

The percentage of unmarried births in the United States has increased from 10 percent in the 1960s to about a third of all births today. Because children of single parents run a higher risk of poverty, academic failure and other problems, lawmakers are always seeking policies that will discourage unwed births - usually focusing on the mothers.

[formercia]

1. but were there more abortions

to offset the lower birthrate?

[Igel]

4. I'm not sure it would have a predictable effect on the abortion rate.

"It didn't show whether tougher child support laws prevented pregnancies or encouraged marriage. Plotnick said the data limited the researchers to observing a strong correlation between tough child support enforcement and fewer out-of-wedlock births. Whether that's caused by fewer unmarried people getting pregnant or more couples marrying when the woman is expecting, he could not say. But he said the findings warrant further study."

The researchers aren't even posing the abortion question, at least not publicly.

Too many options and not enough information: strictly enforced child support could lead to greater use of birth control measures (by the man, or could cause the man make sure the woman's using it), reduce the financial incentive for the man to bolt when "pregnant" is uttered, or increase pressure by the man for the woman to have an abortion.

But I don't see how it would lead to the women independently to decide to abort, except in some exceptional circumstances. If anything, I'd expect it would increase the likelihood that some few women would keep the kid, if only because it would lessen the financial pressure.

[okieinpain]

2. yep, guys should be made to pay. I know a guy that is on the run

just because he doesn't want to pay child support. funny thing is every where he runs he ends up creating another child.

[Mythsaje]

3. Dr. Saje prescribes

universal condom use AND, for those men who wish to wait or don't want children, reversible or irreversible surgery. Once the egg is fertilized, all choice leaves the side of the man and resides in the woman. So take your future in your own hands and ALWAYS USE A CONDOM!

Unless you want to spend the next 18+ years in debt slavery to the State.

USE A CONDOM.

USE A CONDOM.

USE A CONDOM.

ALWAYS.

Don't be a fool.