When thinking about why marriages end, common culprits like infidelity or emotional distance often come to mind. But recent research suggests that economics—specifically, who earns more—plays a major and often overlooked role.
A new analysis by Divorce.com , shared with Fortune, reveals that in heterosexual marriages, women who are the main earners are significantly more likely to divorce than those whose husbands earn more.
Key Findings from the U.S. Study
- Divorce rate with female breadwinner (dual income): 31 per 1,000 marriages
- Divorce rate with male breadwinner (dual income): 11 per 1,000 marriages
- Divorce rate with female breadwinner (single income): 54 per 1,000 marriages
- Female breadwinners make up 16% of households, but account for 42% of divorces
These figures reflect over a decade of consistent data, showing that this is far from a passing trend.
The Cultural & Psychological Factors
University of Chicago economist Marianne Bertrand has highlighted that the societal expectation for men to be the primary earners creates stress within marriages where this is not the case. Gender norms still heavily influence:
- Emotional satisfaction;
- Division of domestic labour; and
- Perceived self-worth and power within the relationship
Even today, Pew Research shows that women who out-earn their husbands still take on more household duties—unless they are sole earners.
Insights from Germany / Sweden: Income Drops After Marriage
A new study by the ifo Institute in Munich and the University of Oslo adds an important international layer to this discussion. Using German pension insurance data, researchers found that:
- Women’s earned income drops by 20% on average after marriage;
- Men’s income remains unaffected;
- Tax incentives, such as Germany’s “spousal splitting” (“Ehegattensplitting”), explain up to 25% of this reduction;
- Women in East Germany (with more progressive role models) show smaller income drops compared to West Germany; and
- The 2008 reform of divorce law, aimed at incentivising women to work post-divorce, had no measurable impact on female income
According to Elena Herold of the ifo Institute:
“Income differences between men and women increase in a marriage, regardless of the birth of children.”
This highlights how structural economic disincentives and traditional roles continue to shape financial dynamics in marriage.
Divorce: A Sign of Empowerment?
Liz Pharo, CEO of Divorce.com, offers a more optimistic take:
“Women are no longer financially dependent on their partners, which means they’re more willing to leave unsatisfying marriages instead of staying out of necessity.”
In this view, the divorce spike among female breadwinners is less about failure and more about freedom—a shift toward emotional and financial independence.
What This Means for Family Law
These insights are essential for family lawyers and divorcing clients alike in domestic and in international case. At Paradigm Family Law, we take these economic dynamics seriously and strive to ensure:
- A fair financial settlement that respects both monetary and non-monetary contributions; and
- Recognition of the emotional cost of economic imbalance
If you would like more details on this or want to discuss your family law matter, please do not hesitate to contact Frank or Evelyn. Paradigm Family Law offers a free initial consultation with a top-rated family lawyer and our fixed fee solutions cover financial or children proceedings from start to finish. You can call us on 01904 217225 or email us at [email protected] .