effect of human capital on the economic status of women following marital disruption

Women who fail to invest in human capital such as education and work experience risk future poverty in the event of marital disruption. This study used data from the National Longitudinal Surveys' Young Women Cohort to determine the effect of human capital on the per capita household income of women immediately following divorce or separation. Results indicated that higher levels of educational attainment and work experience increase post-disruption per capita income by significant amounts. However, fairly large increments of human capital are needed to offset the income-reducing effect of children under age six in the household.