Kessler, DorianHevenstone, DeboraVandecasteele, LeenSepahniya, Samin2023-02-012022-10-032023-02-0120221461-72690958-9287http://dx.doi.org/10.26041/fhnw-4591https://irf.fhnw.ch/handle/11654/33892.2This study examines whether unemployment insurance benefit generosity impacts divorce, drawing on full population administrative data and a Swiss reform that reduced unemployment insurance maximum benefit duration. We assess the effect of the reform by comparing the pre- to the post-reform change in divorce rates among unemployed individuals who were affected by the reform with the change in divorce rates among a statistically balanced group of unemployed individuals who was not affected by the reform. Difference-indifferences estimates suggest that the reform caused a 2.8 percentage point increase in divorce (a 25% increase). Effects were concentrated among low-income couples (+58%) and couples with an unemployed husband (+32%) though gender differences are attributable to men’s breadwinner status. Female main breadwinners were more strongly affected (+78%) than male main breadwinners (+40%). Results confirm the ‘family stress model’ which posits that job search and financial stress cause marital conflict. Policymakers should consider a broad array of impacts, including divorce, when considering reductions in unemployment insurance generosityenUnemployment insurance, divorce, income, unemployment benefits, family stress, quasi-experiment360 - Soziale Probleme, Sozialdienste, Versicherungen01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher Zeitschrift1-16