Does welfare undermine marriage?
Does welfare undermine marriage? For example, if a single mother who earns $20,000 per year marries a man who earns the same amount, the couple will typically lose about $12,000 a year in welfare benefits. In effect, the welfare system makes it economically irrational for most low-income couples to marry. Why is marriage described as a significant institution? Marriage serves important social functions, and social norms often determine the role each spouse takes in a marriage. Because marriage is a social construct, cultural norms and expectations determine what a marriage is and who can marry. What is the man in...