Parents & Children

Question 1

Trends of childbearing

Answer 1

Women having children later, fewer children, or no children at all

Question 2

Reasons for changing trends of childbearing

Answer 2

Births outside marriage is increasing due to decline in stigma and increasing cohabitation
Women now have more options available to them other than just motherhood. Many are choosing a career first before starting family

Question 3

Lone parent families

Answer 3

Make up 22% of families with children
90% of them headed by women

Question 4

Reasons for the rise of lone parent families

Answer 4

Increased divorce and separation, decline in stigma attached to having children outside marriage

Question 5

Perverse incentive

Answer 5

Rewards irresponsible behaviour such as having children without being able to provide for them

Question 6

Murray on lone parent families

Answer 6

The rise is from an overgenerous welfare state, providing benefits for unmarried mothers and their children. It creates a dependency culture in which people assume that the state will support them and their children.

Question 7

What is the solution to the dependency culture?

Answer 7

Abolish welfare benefits, thus removing the perverse incentives and reducing the dependecy culture that encourages births outside marriage

Question 8

Percentage of children born outside marriage

Answer 8

47%

Question 9

Average age to have first child

Answer 9

28

Question 10

Why are the majority of lone parent families female headed?

Answer 10

Naturally women are suited to an expressive or nurturing rolee
Divorce courts usually give custody of children to mothers
Men are typically less willing than women to give up work to care for childrne