Broken homes are good for the U.S. economy
Is the economy really the measure of all things? Well, then here's something to consider.
In my lifetime the incidence of divorce and illegitimacy has risen dramatically in the United States. Why is that so? What forces are working to promote this kind of breakdown? Some years ago it was popular to blame television. I think the answer is both simpler and broader: divorce, illegitimacy, and broken homes in all forms are positively good for the U. S. economy. Here's why:
1. Families of divorce must keep two homes, thus increasing the demand for new home starts, furnishings, household goods, electricity and water. This is a significant boon to the economy.
2. Custody issues often require children to be transported back-and-forth between their parents' homes. While this may be a small expense for individual families, the aggregate cost results in a substantial increase in fuel consumption.
3. Single-family homes with small children are more likely to require paid childcare, thus creating jobs.
4. Children of family breakdown tend to leave home earlier than children of intact families, further increasing the demand for housing, furnishings, and consumer items.
5. Members of broken families are less physically healthy than members of intact families, thus providing a boost to healthcare spending.
6. Perhaps most significantly (if I may state the obvious), members of broken, troubled families tend not to be as happy or emotionally healthy as members of intact, healthy families. Emotionally and spiritually unwell consumers are more likely to seek health, happiness, and relief from pain in the things they can buy. On this concept our nation's economy depends.
Why this list? First, please understand it is not intended to be ironic or humorous; there are far too many human beings suffering to make a joke of family breakdown. It is also not indended to add stigma to those already suffering; many Americans face family breakdown without succumbing to all the ills listed here.
Also, it may well be true that economic harm from broken families outweighs the benefits. That's not the point. This list is meant to show, simply, that in many ways the economy benefits (especially through #6) from divorce, illegitimacy, and unhealthy family life in all forms. Those benefits, in turn, serve as an incentive for perpetuating and expanding the situation that brings them about. In short, "the economy" as a collective entity encourages family breakdown.
There are very powerful forces at work to tear families apart. What does the church offer against such a powerful, destructive tide?
In my lifetime the incidence of divorce and illegitimacy has risen dramatically in the United States. Why is that so? What forces are working to promote this kind of breakdown? Some years ago it was popular to blame television. I think the answer is both simpler and broader: divorce, illegitimacy, and broken homes in all forms are positively good for the U. S. economy. Here's why:
1. Families of divorce must keep two homes, thus increasing the demand for new home starts, furnishings, household goods, electricity and water. This is a significant boon to the economy.
2. Custody issues often require children to be transported back-and-forth between their parents' homes. While this may be a small expense for individual families, the aggregate cost results in a substantial increase in fuel consumption.
3. Single-family homes with small children are more likely to require paid childcare, thus creating jobs.
4. Children of family breakdown tend to leave home earlier than children of intact families, further increasing the demand for housing, furnishings, and consumer items.
5. Members of broken families are less physically healthy than members of intact families, thus providing a boost to healthcare spending.
6. Perhaps most significantly (if I may state the obvious), members of broken, troubled families tend not to be as happy or emotionally healthy as members of intact, healthy families. Emotionally and spiritually unwell consumers are more likely to seek health, happiness, and relief from pain in the things they can buy. On this concept our nation's economy depends.
Why this list? First, please understand it is not intended to be ironic or humorous; there are far too many human beings suffering to make a joke of family breakdown. It is also not indended to add stigma to those already suffering; many Americans face family breakdown without succumbing to all the ills listed here.
Also, it may well be true that economic harm from broken families outweighs the benefits. That's not the point. This list is meant to show, simply, that in many ways the economy benefits (especially through #6) from divorce, illegitimacy, and unhealthy family life in all forms. Those benefits, in turn, serve as an incentive for perpetuating and expanding the situation that brings them about. In short, "the economy" as a collective entity encourages family breakdown.
There are very powerful forces at work to tear families apart. What does the church offer against such a powerful, destructive tide?
posted by Milton Stanley at 7:50 AM
12 Comments:
Yep. As John Schroeder and I discussed in the comments section of Transforming Sermons, strong families help the economy long-term, but broken families mean more money right now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, V man.
Milton: Three blogs? Dude, how do you have the time?? :)
Interesting post. I think we all seem to agree that the gains you're talking about are short term ones. Long term divorce leads to greater debt loads and economic instability.
You might also consider trying to identify how the typical reasons for divorce ("can't stand him," etc) tie into your argument because as it stands I don't see a connection between the idea that divorce might be "good for the economy" and the cultural basis for more divorces. You don't see people saying "Get divorced, youll help the economy." In general, you see them saying "Don't get married, just live together to cut down on expenses."
Good points, Bill. Thanks for the input.
As for three blogs--this one is more or less my overflow where I post only occasionally. It's where I store things that don't really fit at my other two. Peace.
Milton,
Here's a few thoughts:
"Strike that. Reverse it." (Gene Wilder, in Willy Wonka)
Think about this: The modern, miracle economy is what has advanced the divorce rate in the last 60+ years for one simple reason. Thanks to this modern economy, divorce is now POSSIBLE!
Imagine other times and places before the 1920's in America... and I'm not talking about the social effects of Women's Lib; I'm talking about the economic effects of Women's Lib.
Sometime after 1900, in the United States, a woman (whether single or divorced) suddenly gained the ability to support herself, to a degree... and across all strata of society, it has become only easier for women to support themselves solo, without men. As for husbands, alimony notwithstanding, divorce is more acceptable socially because women living solo is more acceptable - thus, it's less scandalous to abandon your wife, as long as she can take care of herself (or sue you for it!)
Why has divorce increased? To borrow from James Carville, "It's the economy, stupid!" (I remember a minister who suggested it was because we took Prayer out of public schools! Yeesh!)
Further, in speaking of Ancient Rome, Will Durant said (and I paraphrase): "In any wealthy society, women begin to gain a greater degree of power, because when a man has satisfied his stomach, his appetite turns to love."
And finally, I don't know about you, but my 7 years of marriage to my wife have certainly revealed the downsides to marriage! My studied opinion is this: living with another human being (that is, without ongoing, radical intervention by the grace and mercies of Jesus Christ!) ...at best, it's still pretty rough.
"Ain't nothin changed"... divorce is POSSIBLE now, thanks to the modern, miracle economy! Any increasaing trend is simply from built up momentum of acceptablity.
Wphew, that was fun! Thanks for blogging.
Wanna blog about Jesus next?
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Bill. I think you're right that divorce is possible because the economy is strong. Your ideas reinforce one theme I was trying to get across in my essay. For both Republicans and Democrats the good of the economy is very nearly a sine qua non for any political idea. It shouldn't be that way for Christians.
"Wanna blog about Jesus next?"
Yes, please. Will you join me at Transforming Sermons?
"For both Republicans and Democrats the good of the economy is very nearly a sine qua non for any political idea. It shouldn't be that way for Christians."
Amen to that!!
Thanks for your comments, Lisa, and for apparently understanding what I was trying to say in this essay. Peace.
It could be bad for the U.S. as a whole because divorce brings displeasure, which can lead to violence and more people in the prisons/hospitals. Most christians aren't going to fall into this category, but for those that do and the non-christians, it can become more of a problem.
Good points, Brad. Of course, I really do believe that divorce is bad for everyone involved. Thanks for commenting, and all the best to you and Redeemed. Peace.
Yup - you're spot on. "Qui $bono$," indeed. It's true that there are many other, more valid ways to define good, but in most of our automatic choices, we don't. That "value = $" equation is ubiquitous, and therefore invisible.
Oh, yeah - EMAIL ME!
But answering your question is a lot tougher than agreeing with you about the problem, isn't it?
Seems like the first step is for the Church to acknowledge those invisible pressures . . . to remind ourselves that our collective responsibility for our economic choices is just as real as the individual responsibility divvied up in every domestic breakup. That knowledge at least would close the gap a little between the Church and many of those it's intended to serve.
Maria: Thanks for your comments. I'll be happy to e-mail you, if I can find your e-mail address. I'm afraid I don't have it on the e-mail I'm using now. Peace. Milton
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