The impact of children on marital stability in the United Kingdom

We examine the effect of fertility on marital stability in the UK using twin births and sex composition to tackle the endogeneity of family size. For women with children younger than age 12, we find little evidence that family size affects the probability of marital dissolution. For women with children at least 12 years or older, we do find evidence of a causal effect of children, but that this effect depends on how family size is increased.