Divorce surge over in U.S.

Good news love birds!  The divorce surge is over.  Marriages in this country are stronger today than they have been in a long time. The divorce rate peaked in the 1970s and early 1980s and has been declining ever since.   

Almost 70% of marriages that began in the 90s reached their 15th wedding anniversary, and those who married in the 2000’s are so far divorcing at even lower rates. If this trend continues, Justin Wolfers, a University of Michigan economist says that 2/3rds of marriage will never end in divorce.

So why are marriages lasting longer? People are getting married later, birth control has decreased the number of marriages due to..obligation.. And there is a rise in so called love marriages. Much of the trend is due to changing gender roles.

William Doherty, a marriage therapist at University of Minnesota said, “Two-thirds of divorces are initiated by women, so when you’re talking about changes in divorce rates, in many ways you’re talking about changes in women’s expectations.”

So there you have it, keep your lady happy and the effects could be felt for decades, as children of stable marriages grow up with role models for successful future relationships.