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Multiple‐Partner Fertility: Incidence and Implications for Child Support Policy

Daniel R. Meyer

University of Wisconsin–Madison

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Maria Cancian

University of Wisconsin–Madison

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Steven T. Cook

University of Wisconsin–Madison

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University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison

Abstract

Family complexity that results when adults have children with multiple partners (multiple‐partner fertility) is quite common. It also has important implications for understanding child support outcomes and for designing and evaluating welfare and family policy. Using a unique set of merged administrative data, this article provides the first comprehensive documentation of levels of family complexity among a broad sample of welfare recipients. The analyses suggest that family complexity is very common and also that complexity is associated with systematically different child support outcomes.

Social Service Review

Volume 79, Number 4December 2005

Article DOI

https://doi.org/10.1086/454386

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Citations: 70
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