Diverging Destinies Revisited

Abstract

In her 2004 presidential address to the Population Association of American, Sara McLanahan argued that in the USA and other Western countries, the second demographic transition was leading to two very different trajectories for women—with very different implications for children. Whereas for children born to mothers with a college degree, the changes in family behavior were associated with gains in parental resources, for children born to less educated mothers, the changes were associated with relative and, in some instances, absolute losses in resources. The authors extend the 2004 paper by updating the evidence with recent trends in the USA and new analyses from other countries, including Japan, Australia, and the EU countries, and by reviewing evidence on the causes of change. They conclude by noting that the changes in family formation are associated with negative outcomes for parents, children, and society and by discussing possible solutions to the growing disparities in family behaviors.