The Effect of Child Support Enforcement on Domestic Violence among Married and Cohabiting Couples

Angela R. Fertig, Princeton University
Sara McLanahan, Princeton University
Irwin Garfinkel, Columbia University

Some advocates worry that stronger child support enforcement may increase domestic violence by keeping violent couples together. Theory, however, is ambiguous on this issue. While stronger enforcement may encourage marriage and parental contact, which increases the opportunity for violence, it also increases women's bargaining power, which may reduce violence. This paper examines the relationship between child support enforcement and violence among married and cohabiting couples. We use state level data constructed using the Current Population Survey matched onto individual level data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which interviews approximately 5,000 new parents and follows them through the first year of their child’s life. We find that living in a state with stricter child support enforcement is associated with a significantly higher probability of violence among cohabiting couples, although there is some evidence that selection plays a role.