Husbands' and Wives' Resources and Marital Dissolution

Abstract

Prominent theories converge in suggesting that a wifes resources are positively related to marital dissolution (i.e. the wifes independence hypothesis) whereas a husbands resources are inversely related to dissolution (i.e. the husbands income hypothesis). Using data from the [U.S.] Panel Study of Income Dynamics (1968-1985) a discrete-time event history analysis identifies modifications required of both hypotheses. First wifes earnings have a nonlinear U-shaped relationship to the risk of marital dissolution. Second the impact of husbands earnings varies as a function of wifes earnings.... Finally results fail to support the hypothesis that better economic prospects for a wife measured by education and time worked increase the risk of marital dissolution separately from her actual economic standing measured by her earnings. (EXCERPT)