Child support enforcement in the United States: Has policy made a difference?

Over the past few decades, the federal government has intensified child support enforcement policies in response to high rates of child poverty and single-mother households. This study provides a comprehensive review of empirical, peer-reviewed articles from the past 20 years on the direct effects of child support enforcement policies on payments to custodial mothers and the indirect effects of these policies on behaviors such as fertility, sexual activity, welfare utilization, father involvement, and labor participation. The review indicates that child support enforcement has contributed to an increase in child support payments to custodial mothers. Additionally, strong enforcement is associated with low nonmarital fertility, risky sexual behavior, and welfare utilization and high father involvement. Policy implications are discussed.

► Number of single-mother families has increased substantially over the past decades. ► Government has strengthened child support enforcement to protect children. ► Child support enforcement improved child support collection and reduced poverty. ► Child support enforcement had positive effects on fertility and welfare behavior. ► The effects benefit children, men, and women for their long-term potential.