EXPENDITURES ON CHILDREN AND VISITATION TIME |
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Authors: | William V. Fabricius Sanford L. Braver |
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Affiliation: | William V. Fubricius is an associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University specializing in child development.;Sanford L. Braver is a professor of psychology and co-principal investigator, Prevention Research Center, in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. E-mail: |
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Abstract: | In their critique, Garfinkel, McLanahan, and Wallerstein raise concerns about the representativeness of the authors' sample, benchmark approach methodology, and historical review of guidelines, all of which lead them to discount the evidence presented opposing the cliff-model assumption of father expenditures on children, and to laud instead child support guidelines that give little monetary credit or adjustment for visitation. This article presents evidence that (a) this sample is at most little biased, and remains trustworthy for the main implications presented; (b) although only a beginning, the benchmark approach is highly useful and most of the concerns raised about it are ill founded or implausible; and (c) the historical review suggesting that current guidelines assume zero visitation expenses is indeed accurate for the vast majority of states, according to the foremost authority. Thus, notwithstanding the critique, these findings have merit and importance and should be considered by policy makers. The authors also comment on the additional arguments against continuous and generous adjustments for visitation, finding them based on a weak foundation of evidence and reasoning. |
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Keywords: | child support father's financial support parenting time economic outcomes of divorce |
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