Causal Role of Marriage Formation in Welfare, Poverty, and Child Well-Being
Abstract
This article examines whether “marriage formation” policy is an effective singular public
policy for reducing welfare and poverty and improving child well-being in the absence of other
policy reforms. The article proposes two theses regarding marriage formation policy in the
United States:
1. There is no valid and reliable evidence which has determined marriage is a singular,
independent variable causing improved child-well-being and reduced welfare and
poverty; and
2. There is evidence of multiple resource availability and relationship stability variables as
the most valid and reliable predictors of adult and child economic and social well-being.
The article examines the contrasting philosophical positions on marriage formation policy. The
perspective which asserts marriage is the single causal variable is examined through recent
proposals by the Bush Administration (Office of Child Support Enforcement, 2003;
Administration for Children and Families, 2004) and its underlying theoretical and research
justifications (Murray, 2001, 1984; Mead, 2001, 1986; Rector, 2001; Fagan, Patterson, & Rector,
2002; Whitehead, 2004). Evidence of the multiple interdependent variable approach comes from
a variety of research studies detailed in the article.