Good Intentions Gone Awry: No-Fault Divorce and the American Family

Based on sociological and economic analysis, Good Intentions Gone Awry: No-Fault Divorce and the American Family presents valuable new insights into the impact of divorce on American society. Rather than blaming the deterioration in the quality of family life on the decline in so-called ‘family values’, lawyer and economist Parkman argues that adults are responding to the incentives created by new opportunities and legal rules. He asserts that no-fault divorce statutes, which often allow either spouse to dissolve a marriage with only limited consideration for or compensation to their spouse and children, have had a central role in altering these incentives by reducing the motivation for adults to make a long-term commitment to their family or other concessions that would otherwise benefit marriage. The resulting inordinate emphasis placed by adults on their career and best interests rather than the best interests of their family have contributed to the decline in marriage often with disastrous effects for adults and their children. Parkman discusses the issues surrounding this sociological phenomena, proposes a reform program in response, and suggests steps that adults can take to create a durable and constructive family until such reforms occur.