The Dynamics of Family Formation and Dissolution

• Published date: 01 December 2021
• Author: Belinda Hewitt
• Date: 01 December 2021
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8462.12445

The Australian Economic Review, vol. 54, no. 4, pp. 506–517 DOI: 10.1111/1467-8462.12445

The Dynamics of Family Formation and Dissolution

Belinda Hewitt*

Abstract

The HILDA Survey has provided an unprece-

dented opportunity to investigate the determi-

nants and consequences of family formation and

dissolution in Australia. This review gives an

overview of this research, focusing on (i)

relationship formation, (ii) fertility, children

and parenting and (iii) relationship dissolution.

1. Introduction

Family and family life have always been main

areas of focus of the HILDA Survey. Some of

the key questions the survey was designed to

address are: What are the factors influencing

decisions regarding family formation and

dissolution? What are the interrelationships

between decisions on partnering, the timing of

children and labour‐force participation? What

are the associations between childcare ar-

rangements and labour supply decisions?

What types of financial hardship are asso-

ciated with family breakup? This article

provides an overview of family research using

the HILDA Survey data that have addressed

these questions. The article is divided into

three main sections that cover the evidence

on: (i) relationship formation and diversity;

(ii) fertility, children and parenting; and (iii)

relationship dissolution. Many other related

topics have also been examined; for example,

there are dozens of studies examining family

life, health and wellbeing, and outcomes for

children. However, due to space limitations,

this review is limited to the mentioned topics.

2. Relationship Formation and Diversity

2.1 Characteristics Associated with

Relationship Formation and Type

A couple relationship is often viewed as the

foundation for family life. The HILDA Survey

has been used to describe and understand who

forms relationships and the types of relationships

that they form. Hewitt and Baxter (2012)

* School of Social and Political Sciences, The University

of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; email

<belinda.hewitt@unimelb.edu.au>. The author acknowl-

edges the invaluable research support provided by Dr

Alexandra Ridgeway.

© 2021 The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research,

Faculty of Business and Economics

Published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd