The Marriage Gap Is America's Most Overlooked Source of Inequality
The article argues that the declining rate of marriage in America, particularly among lower-income and less-educated populations, is a major but often ignored driver of inequality, with significant impacts on child outcomes, income mobility, and poverty. Research cited shows that children from intact, two-parent families are more likely to attain college degrees and middle-class incomes, while government benefit structures often penalize marriage. Despite the importance of marriage as a stabilizing institution, the author opposes government intervention that either promotes or discourages it.
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Inequality The Marriage Gap Is America's Most Overlooked Source of Inequality Every dollar of well-intentioned government assistance comes with a behavioral price tag that we've largely refused to count. Veronique de Rugy | 4.30.2026 1:25 PM Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google Media Contact & Reprint Requests <img src="https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/c800x450-w800-q80/uploads/2026/04/Marriage-inequality-800x450.jpg" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto" width="1200" height="675" title="A married couple walk into the distance as cash falls underneath them" alt="A married couple walk into the distance as cash falls underneath them | Illustration: Lex Villena; Midjourney" /> (Illustration: Lex Villena;…
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