Protect families: Combat poverty

Great study from the always excellent MDRC on the effects of poverty in marriages.

(Quick snapshot of data here.)

The researchers had a very simple question: how does poverty affect rates of divorce?  

(more after jump)

They found that

Economically disadvantaged adults are just as likely to marry as their more advantaged counterparts, but their marriages are substantially more unstable. Through their 20s, economically disadvantaged adults are actually more likely to marry than advantaged adults. By age 30, the proportion who have ever married is very similar. In contrast, the difficulty of staying married increases substantially with levels of economic disadvantage. For example, the probability of divorcing or separating in each year after first marriage is consistently higher for women from less affluent neighborhoods. This pattern holds true when economic disadvantage is defined as low family income or education level.

Amazingly, there was basically no previous study on this.

This is an important study because it helps progressives make the case that WE ARE PRO-FAMILY.  WE ARE CARE PASSIONATELY ABOUT VALUES.

This is not defending "family values" in the abstract. This is the real thing.

Now we have a research-validated talking point (and the MDRC people are nothing if not extremely rigurous). You want to protect families? Then you have to support minimum wage raises, you have to support safety nets, you have to support universal health care for the poor (at least), you have to oppose the bankruptcy bill.

Do check these people often.  They are very good.