Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: Broken Homes and Empty Pantries: French Households Suffer Substantial Loss of Standard Living, Reduce Food Consumption and Lose Weight Following Separation 
Author-Name: Julia Mink
Author-Email: julia.mink@uni-bonn.de
Classification-JEL: D12, J12
Keywords: Separation, divorce, living standards, income, food consumption, event study

Abstract: This study sheds new light on the impact of couple separation on household living standards by 
considering the effects of separation on measures reflecting the adequacy of food consumption in addition 
to more commonly studied income and expenditure measures. Using an event study approach with panel data 
from France, I examine changes in household disposable income, food expenditure and food quantities purchased, 
diet quality and household member’s body weight at the time of separation and up to eight years later, compared to a
control group of households that did not separate. Disposable income, food expenditure and
quantities purchased adjusted for household size fall by around 20%-25% after separation and
until the end of the observation window. The ex-partner’s body mass index (weight for height
measure) falls by 1.5% in the first three years after separation and diet quality worsens. A
possible interpretation of the results is that living standards fall to the point where households
cannot maintain a minimum level of consumption to meet their dietary needs, resulting in
measurable weight loss.


Note: 
Length: 54
Creation-Date: 2023-10
Revision-Date:
File-URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp469
File-Format: application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:CRCTR224_2023_469