Abstract Between 1970 and 1980, 37 states adopted unilateral‐no‐fault divorce laws. This change was known as the no‐fault revolution. Critics claim that no‐fault divorce has weakened moral values and contributed to family breakdown. Past research offers mixed conclusions on whether these laws increased divorce rates. This paper improves upon previous studies by distinguishing between unilateral‐no‐fault and overall (unilateral and mutual) no‐fault divorce treatment dates. Using a causal inference framework and a stacked‐regression difference‐in‐differences estimator with entropy balancing, this study accounts for varied treatment timing. The findings show no lasting or statistically significant effects of unilateral‐no‐fault divorce laws on divorce rates.
Jordan D. Hillman (Tue,) studied this question.