How family trends are impacted in the United States

1. What trends affect our families the most in today’s society? What single trend affects families the most?

The family trend that impacts families the most is today’s society are low marriage rates and high divorce rates. Here, particularly in minority demographics, broken families have resulted in many negative consequences for society. For one, many children are not growing up without a father figure in the household. Studies have shown that the absence of a father figure can materially impact child development. In addition, high divorce rates also discourage men from commitment as nearly 80% of divorces are initiated by women, resulting in men losses a large proportion of their assets. As a result, men are simply opting out of the marriage market as it heavily skewed against them in both the court system (child support, alimony, etc.) and in society.

2. What would happen if we had the one child policy in the United States? How would day to day life be different

If we had the one child policy in the United States, there is a chance economic output might increase as families would first have higher discretionary income. This in term would lead to higher savings and lower debt. These saving can then be utilized in economic development through loans, stock issuances and so forth. In addition, it is possible that a one child policy would help children development in a much more beneficial manner as it is more likely that resources will be better deployed to support the child.

3. How do trends in society affect how we would raise children? What parenting norms would be affected by various trends?