Inter-Generational Social Mobility and Divorce Risks

Gosta Esping-Andersen , Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Diederik Boertien, Centre d’Estudis Demogràfics (CED)

Abstract While the social correlates of divorce are well documented, it comes as a surprise to see that there exist no studies whatsoever of how intergenerational social mobility affects divorce risks. Exploiting the Understanding Society data, we test the relative validity of a social exchange as opposed to social networks hypothesis. We examine both those (males) who are upwardly and downwardly socially mobile and estimate relative divorce risks for those who are partnered with a social origin as opposed to destination spouse. Our principal findings suggest that ‘destination-based’ partnerships enjoy significantly greater marital stability for both the upwardly and downwardly mobile individuals.

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 Presented in Session 100. Union Dissolution 2