Reconsidering the increase in father-only families

摘要: Previously reported estimates of rapid growth rates among father-only families did not account for cohabitation. An explicit treatment cohabitation removes about half the presumed growth. Nevertheless, we find that number grew at more than double rate mother-only during 1980s. Decomposition analyses show largest factor associated with increase is fathers now head a greater proportion all formerly married single-parent children. Although share headed by larger in 1990 1980 even after controlling cohabitation, it smaller 1970.