Reduced Female Marriage Opportunity and History of Single Parenthood

Abstract

This study investigated whether historical changes in nonmarital birth ratios would respond to the availability of marriageable men. Nonmarital birth ratios for Scotland (1861 to 1980), England (1851 to 1980), and the United States (1800 to 1988) were studied at 4-year or 5-year intervals. Nonmarital births were negatively correlated with the supply of single men in each country. Regression analyses controlling for time trend and economic prosperity had the same result. Single parenthood increased when women faced a weak marriage market.