Introduction
Divorce is a family-related problem that involves the termination of a marriage by a court of law. This dissolution is usually characterized by the reshuffling or complete cancellation of legal roles and obligations previously held by the individual spouse. According to a study done by the Center for American Progress, the rate of divorce in the U.S. is approximately 48.7%, implying that 60 out of every 1000 marriages in over 30 states end in divorce (Swensen et al., 2020). Concomitantly, 42%, 61%, and 75.1% of first, second, and third marriages, respectively, are estimated to lead to divorce across 44 states. Unprecedented recessionary cycles characterized by inadequate resources at the family level exert financial stress on breadwinners, who may eventually decide to divorce.
The majority of familial conflicts have been linked to inadequate income to sustain budgetary requirements. As a result, the acquisition of better health care, quality food, and education is greatly compromised, leading to instability. Divorce affects healthy family relationships by eroding a sense of belongingness and mutual trust, especially among children, who may eventually find it difficult to interact freely with others. A breakdown of how two public policies, namely, Medicaid expansion and minimum wage increment, can be used to alleviate divorce forms the basis of this paper.
Minimum Wage Increment
Regardless of their educational merit and level of skills possessed, most family breadwinners have experienced a drop in their salaries and wages in real terms over the past few years. In the long run, their capacity to provide has reduced, thus triggering financial instability in the family. Although marriage psychologist Dr. Benjamin Karney argues that raising the minimum wage delays marriages, he later elaborates that this initiative tends to lower divorce rates among low-income earners (Swensen et al., 2020). Fiscal policies intended to reduce disparities in income distribution have the effect of increasing family stability, so the two variables correlate negatively. Couples’ perceptions of the value of their relationships are heavily influenced by their respective financial positions. Overdependence on debt to obtain basic family needs indicates potential financial strain in the family, thus increasing the likelihood of divorce. With that in mind, different governments can formulate relevant public policies to support healthy family development in order to cushion workers from adverse business cycles.
For example, in April 2020, the U.S. federation through Congress promulgated a wage bill targeting all low-income earners working for major companies across the country. The policy, requiring all employers to pay their workers at a minimum rate of 15 dollars per hour, is expected to increase earnings for over 37 million Americans by 2025 (Swensen et al., 2020). Of the 37 million, appropriately, 42% of young people who are considering family commitments and 50% of those who are already in marriages will be guaranteed improved financial security (Swensen et al., 2020). Strong and healthy family ties will be built and maintained on the foundation of a stable, adequately rewarded job. As a result, access to better housing, health care, and other essential facilities will be easier, leading to happier homes. Similarly, the quality of parent-child interactions will be improved while the latter develops positive attitudes towards cohabitation. The section below highlights how the Medicaid public health policy can be used to alleviate divorce.
Expansion of Medicaid
The lack of health insurance among family members can result in financial hardships, increased stress levels, subpar health results, and instability within the family in case a medical emergency occurs. These conditions can cumulatively trigger divorces, especially if one of the spouses is singlehandedly paying for all the medical bills of the children (Hampton & Lenhart, 2022). Different countries have formulated policies to ensure that the health care budget of the family is covered by the government.
For example, the U.S. government expanded Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act (ACC) to approximately three million adults, making it possible for low-income married adults to access it regardless of where they lived. Although the majority of the citizens had already contracted different private insurance firms, some families could not afford high-quality and affordable medical care by themselves (Hampton & Lenhart, 2019). This policy will therefore offset the burden of high medical bills in the familial setting by covering everyone, including children, pregnant women, and members with disabilities.
Conclusion
Divorce is one of the family-related issues that largely affect healthy family development. The rapid dynamism between favorable and unfavorable business cycles has constrained disposable income for breadwinners, thus triggering financial stress that frequently results in divorce. When this occurs, children suffer by losing the sense of belonging and parents’ direct interaction. However, most governments have formulated public policies that can be used to alleviate this issue. For instance, the expansion of Medicaid and the minimum wage increment in the U.S. have impacted directly on the rate of divorce. These strategies are tailored towards ensuring sustainable relationships and marriages among low-income families. Whereas the Affordable Care Act focuses on reducing healthcare burden on parents, raising the minimum wage serves to boost parents’ disposable income, enhancing their ability to access better resources, hence creating a healthy family.
References
Hampton, M., & Lenhart, O. (2019). The effect of the ACA Medicaid expansion on marriage behavior. Available at SSRN 3450609.
Hampton, M., & Lenhart, O. (2022). The effect of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on marriage. Economic Inquiry, 60(2), 568-591.
Swensen, I. D., Lindo, J., & Regmi, K. (2020). Stable income, stable family. NBER Working Paper, (w27753). Web.