The Economy’s Effect on Divorce

 Posted on November 06, 2012 in Divorce

Since the end of 2006, the unemployment rate in Illinois has doubled from 4.4% to its current rate of 8.8%.  While it is easy to see how people losing their jobs would lead to bankruptcy, there are other strains that can be put on a family when there are financial issues.  A survey conducted by NPR and the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that 1 in 5 people who have been unemployed for a year think that their relationships are negatively affected. Yet as unemployment rates go up, the divorce rate goes down.  People who are not able to pay for food or shelter are less likely to use their money to pay for divorces.  So, it happens in times of financial crisis’s that people shore up together to weather the storm, no matter how difficult it becomes.  A new study in BE Journal of Economic Analysis and Policy backs up the claim about the relationship between unemployment and divorce, for every one percent increase in the unemployment rate, the divorce rate goes down by 1%. There is a cause for concern when confronted by these numbers.  As people become increasingly unhappy in their marriages and begin to feel more trapped, they start doing anything to get out.  The CDC has released that 1 in 4 women have reported being physically hurt by their husbands or boyfriends.  There is also data that shows that 1 in 7 men have experienced similar abuse.  If you have been a victim of abuse and need an order of protection or you have been considering divorcing your spouse, then you need to talk to someone.  Contact a skilled family law attorney in Saint Charles who can assist you in filing protective paperwork.