Socio-economic resources, relationship processes, and separation

Abstract

This thesis consists of three empirical papers that all study relationship processes and their effects on divorce. Of particular interest is the role that socio-economic resources play in this story. In the first empirical paper of this thesis I investigate why there exists a negative correlation between women’s education and the risk of divorce. The second paper addresses whether the correlation between income and separation is causal by looking at the effects of lottery wins. The last empirical chapter aims to explain a common but relatively illogical course of events, namely, the dissolution of relatively satisfying relationships. Overall the results of this thesis show that resources play an important role in relationship dynamics, but they primarily affect the barriers to leave each other, instead of improving the marital lives of couples directly