Abstract
We examine the effect of joint custody on marriage, divorce, fertility and female employment in Austria using individual-level administrative data, covering the entire population.
We also use unique data obtained from court records to analyze the effect on post-divorce outcomes.
Our estimates show that joint custody significantly reduces divorce and female employment rates, significantly increases marriage and marital birth rates,
and leads to a substantial increase in the total money transfer received by mothers after divorce.
We interpret these results as evidence against Becker-Coase bargains and in support of a mechanism driven by a resource redistribution that favors men giving them greater incentives to invest in marriage specific capital.
We also use unique data obtained from court records to analyze the effect on post-divorce outcomes.
Our estimates show that joint custody significantly reduces divorce and female employment rates, significantly increases marriage and marital birth rates,
and leads to a substantial increase in the total money transfer received by mothers after divorce.
We interpret these results as evidence against Becker-Coase bargains and in support of a mechanism driven by a resource redistribution that favors men giving them greater incentives to invest in marriage specific capital.
| Original language | English |
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| Place of Publication | Vienna |
| Publisher | WU Vienna University of Economics and Business |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2013 |
Publication series
| Series | Department of Economics Working Paper Series |
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| Number | 149 |
WU Working Paper Series
- Department of Economics Working Paper Series