COST OF DIVORCE

CITIZENLINK - July 22, 2003
http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0026974.cfm
New Study: Divorce Costs Billions
By Steve Jordahl

SUMMARY: Divorces are costing the government billions of dollars, according a new study.

In the first study of its kind to look at the financial burden that failing marriages have on society, Utah State University has concluded that divorce is costing the United States government more than $33 billion a year. Every year, thousands of divorced couples end up on the welfare rolls and in the federal health care system, incurring a tremendous cost to the U.S. taxpayer. "It's costing us roughly $30,000 per divorce - that is taking direct costs from the state, direct costs to the federal government, and indirect cost as well," said David Schramm, author of the study.

Some think the study is undercounting the cost. Mike McManus, founder and co-chair of Marriage Savers, a Christian ministry, said the federal government spends $150 billion on programs to subsidize single-parent families. "It seems low to me because it would appear that perhaps $70 billion of the federal cost alone is due to the breakup of marriages," McManus said.

The federal government is currently contemplating spending money to strengthen marriage. Critics are saying it's not the government's place, but McManus said the problem is getting out of hand and he knows where to start. "It's time, in my view, to reform 'no-fault' divorce (laws)," McManus said. "We have had 35 million children growing up in homes who's parents divorce one another - in effect, divorce the children as well."

While we count the cost to the government in dollars, Schramm said we count the cost to society in broken lives. "That's immeasurable. That's perhaps the most devastating consequence of divorce, is to the children and to the couples often going through that process," Schramm said. It's a cost no amount of money can make up for. According to the study, divorce costs $312 for every household, while it costs the couple splitting up $18,000 each. McManus said the main reason for divorce is selfishness.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about Marriage Savers, visit their Web site: http://www.marriagesavers.org/

Focus on the Family also produces numerous resources on the subject of marriage. We recommend a new resource for you and your church called "Focus on the Family Marriage Series Group Starter Kit." It's an in-depth, foundational Bible study series to help strengthen marriages by bringing couples a better understanding of God's plan for marriage: http://www.family.org/resources/itempg.cfm?itemid=3856&refcd=CE03GCZL&tvar=no

(NOTE: Referrals to Web sites not produced by Focus on the Family are for informational purposes and do not necessarily imply an endorsement of their contents by Focus on the Family.)