Short and long term consequences of union dissolution in a comparative perspective: evidence from the gender and generations surveys

Arnstein Aassve, Università Bocconi
Letizia Mencarini, University of Turin

By drawing on the recent Gender and Generations Surveys (GGS) this paper considers the consequences of union dissolution from a comparative perspective. We take a micro perspective, and consider to what extent men and women are affected by union dissolution in terms of outcomes broadly defined. All surveys include detailed union histories and a range of outcome variables which includes income and earnings, assets and possessions, life satisfaction and in many surveys measures of the relationships to their children. The analysis is comparative and we put focus on how the consequences vary for different countries which also exhibit different welfare regimes.