The Economic Consequences of Marital Dissolution for Women in the Middle Years 1

This article uses longitudinal data from the Panel Study o f lncome Dynamics to explore how changes in marital status affect the economic status o f married women in their middle years. Results demonstrate that when a marriage ends, the economic status o f women declines considerably. Components o f income change are discussed, with emphasis on the extent to which women can compensate for the loss o f a spouse's income through increases in paid labor, by changes in living arrangements, and by the use o f public and private transfers.