Ramifications of Divorce on the Economic Activity of Men and Women - a Multilevel Analysis

Liat Raz-Yurovich, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research

By employing linear multilevel analysis for repeated measures with growth models, logistic multilevel analyses, and fixed-effects models, this study analyzes how divorce affects different aspects of economic activity of men and women. Our multilevel analyses suggest that men's monthly salary and employment stability are hurt more following divorce, in comparison to women's. Nonetheless, our results are in line with previous research on the negative effect of divorce on women's economic status. This is because our fixed-effects models show that although women increase their employment stability and number of jobs held following divorce, their salary does not increase following marital disruption. Moreover, women experience a reduction in the growth rate of their salary. As for men, our fixed-effects models suggest that their employment stability is hurt following divorce, but that there are no substantial differences in men's salary or in the growth rate of their salary following marital disruption.