The Effect of Children's Gender on Divorce and Child Support

In the United States a large proportion of children will live in single mother homes for some period in their childhoods, and whether they receive child support from their absent fathers is an important factor in their well-being. Previous evidence suggests that the gender composition of a family's children - specifically, the presence of sons - reduces the probability of divorce. Using the March Current Population Survey from 1983 - 2001, this paper examines whether girls are at a double disadvantage in terms of the probabilities of their parents divorcing, and in the likelihood of receiving child support if their parents are divorced. The empirical findings indicate that boys are more likely than girls to reside in married couple families, consistent with the notion that boys reduce the probabilities of divorce. However, there is little evidence that boys and girls fare differently in child support receipt or amounts if their parents are divorced.