According to an article by CitizenLink, written by Karla Dial, married men work harder, work smarter and put in longer hours than a single man.
They pump more money into the economy. Over his lifetime a married man will earn 20% more than a single man.
Why? Dial suggests, "When men are tasked with the responsibility, financially, of providing for a wife and kids, they will rise to the occasion. That’s going to happen when they’re married, not when they’re having kids outside of marriage."
This research presents further evidence why healthy marriages are good for the economy and society. Not only does a healthy marriage generate more economic growth-- a health marriage also saves society from the costly epidemic of divorce.
As the saying goes, "If marriage is grand, then divorce is a million grand." Not only does divorce entail the expensive attorney fees and division of possessions; it also incurs the hidden costs of emotional and physical health stressors and taxed potential on the family as a whole, especially children.
Statistically, divorced people are more likely to suffer from chronic health problems than people who stay married. CNN reported on research by Mary Elizabeth Hughes that divorced or widowed people have 20 percent more chronic health problems (like heart disease, diabetes and cancer) than do married people. The article states that remarrying doesn't wipe away this trauma to the body. And children of divorced parents are less likely to succeed in school and more likely to struggle with their emotional wellbeing.
So if it's possible to stay married, do so. An elderly woman had been married and divorced three times. Her husbands had all passed away, and now alone, she admitted, "I could have made it work with the first one."
Some divorcees have said the same. If they could go back and try again, they would. In what ways might couples be encouraged to stick together when things get tough? Curt Ophoven wrote of a marriage campaign from the White House.
"A national campaign promoting marriage and the negative health effects of divorce could save the nation more money than Obamacare," Ophoven wrote. "It would promote freedom and the pursuit of moral values and a commitment to your spouse. What (a socialist government wants) to promote is a commitment to the government rather than a commitment to your spouse. The more people turn to their family for support, the stronger the family unit would become and the less dependent on government."
Few governments have grasped this thought. In reality, governments across the globe have presented varying perspectives on family. Socialist governments push for welfare programs and a reliance on governmental authority. China enforced a strict one-child rule to enforce control over the family. However, this enactment has not yielded the best results for the family nor the economy. As seen in other countries like South Korea, Spain and Italy, a shrinking population has resulted in a string of young workers struggling to provide retirement dollars for the ballooning elderly population.
Finland has responded to their dwindling population with an unusual family-friendly approach. They give care-giving credits, which many moms have used to stay home with their kids instead of joining the workforce. This act has resulted in larger families and has increased the country's fertility rate.
This small act made by Finland's government will likely do more than just increase their population. One parent staying home will result in more stability for the family and possibly greater wellbeing for the growing children. In essence, the more a country does to encourage healthy marriages and healthy families, the better they will fare economically and morally.
MARRI (Marriage and Religion Research Institute of the Family Research Council) director Pat Fagan said in a Christian Post article, "We cannot solve our nation's fiscal woes until we address the breakdown of the family. If the government pledged to reduce family breakdown by just one percent, taxpayers would save around $1.1 billion dollars each year." Fagan was referring to "bloated government systems" which fund support for broken families.
"The nation would be far wealthier and healthier if the marriage rate was increased," Ophoven said.