558. The Facts Are In: Two Parents Are Better Than One | Freakonomics

Intro

In this episode of Freakonomics Radio, host Stephen J. Dubner explores the decline of two-parent households in the US and the implications for inequality and social mobility. Melissa Karney, an economist at the University of Maryland, discusses her new book “The Two Parent Privilege” and the importance of including family structure in conversations about economic and social issues. The episode also features insights from the Atlas Obscura podcast on communal living and alternative family structures.

Main Takeaways

The Decline of Two-Parent Households

• In 1960, only 5% of babies in the US were born to unmarried parents, compared to 40% today, and 70% for black babies.
• The decline of two-parent households is rarely discussed in academic and policy circles, often met with discomfort.
• Karney emphasizes the importance of including family structure in conversations about inequality and social mobility.

Economic Factors Contributing to the Decline

• The economic desirability of non-college-educated men has eroded, contributing to the decline of two-parent households.
• The trend of declining marriage rates post-80s shows an inequality dimension in household structure in the U.S., with college-educated individuals more likely to raise kids in married parent homes, while non-college educated individuals struggle to achieve the same.
• Assortative mating, where college-educated people tend to partner with and marry other college-educated individuals, has contributed to the increase in inequality across households.

The Impact of Single-Parent Households

• Single-parent trend has led to economic insecurity, fewer resources, and less time and emotional investment in children, resulting in behavioral challenges and lower educational and economic achievement.
• Boys from single-parent households, especially those with only mothers, are more likely to be involved with the criminal justice system.
• Factors driving the societal move away from two-parent households include personal preferences, social norms, government policies, weak social safety nets, and employment trends.

Alternative Family Structures

• The episode explores the idea of multiple parents and features insights from the Atlas Obscura podcast on communal living and family structures.
• Communal parenting is acknowledged as valuable, but it cannot fully replace the presence of a second parent in a household.
• Studies from Israeli Kibbutzim suggest that children raised collectively exhibit better academic performance, social adaptability, and self-esteem.

Summary

The Decline of Two-Parent Households

Melissa Karney, an economist at the University of Maryland, discusses her new book “The Two Parent Privilege” and highlights the decline of two-parent households in the US. In 1960, only 5% of babies were born to unmarried parents, compared to 40% today. This trend is even more prevalent among black babies, with 70% being born to unmarried parents. However, the decline of two-parent households is rarely discussed in academic and policy circles. Karney emphasizes the importance of including family structure in conversations about inequality and social mobility.

Economic Factors Contributing to the Decline

The decline of two-parent households is influenced by economic factors. The economic desirability of non-college-educated men has eroded, contributing to the decline. College-educated individuals are more likely to raise kids in married parent homes, while non-college-educated individuals struggle to achieve the same. Assortative mating, where college-educated people tend to partner with and marry other college-educated individuals, has also contributed to the increase in inequality across households.

The Impact of Single-Parent Households

The increase in single-parent households has led to economic insecurity, fewer resources, and less time and emotional investment in children. This results in behavioral challenges and lower educational and economic achievement. Boys from single-parent households, especially those with only mothers, are more likely to be involved with the criminal justice system. The societal move away from two-parent households is driven by various factors, including personal preferences, social norms, government policies, weak social safety nets, and employment trends.

Alternative Family Structures

The episode explores the concept of multiple parents and features insights from the Atlas Obscura podcast on communal living and family structures. While communal parenting is acknowledged as valuable, it cannot fully replace the presence of a second parent in a household. Studies from Israeli Kibbutzim suggest that children raised collectively exhibit better academic performance, social adaptability, and self-esteem. However, the institution of marriage has persisted over time, and alternative models have not been practically implemented on a large scale.

Conclusion

The decline of two-parent households in the US has significant implications for inequality and social mobility. Economic factors, such as the erosion of economic desirability for non-college-educated men and assortative mating, contribute to this decline. Single-parent households face economic insecurity and challenges in providing resources and emotional investment in children. While alternative family structures, such as communal living, have their merits, they cannot fully replace the benefits of a two-parent household. It is important to have conversations about supporting one-parent families while promoting advantageous household structures to address the societal move away from two-parent households.