Divided by globalization? The impact of globalization on divorce rates across 120 countries
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 9951406 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jeremy Ko (0009-0007-3880-6981, ETH Zurich, corresponding author), Xiaoxian Chen (0009-0000-4521-035X, Education University of Hong Kong), Chuangjian Xin (0009-0009-5317-0082, Chinese University of Hong Kong), Miguel Angel Esquivias (0000-0002-1282-6163, Airlangga University), Mohammad Ridwan (0000-0003-2239-2706, Noakhali Science and Technology University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 79-105 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-28 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Sociology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0020-7659 • E-ISSN: 1557-9336 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00207659.2026.2632635 |
| OpenAlex | W7133733461 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 33 |
This study examines the impact of globalization on divorce rates using panel data from 120 countries between 1970 and 2017. Drawing on Ulrich Beck’s risk society framework, it explores how globalization promotes individual autonomy and adaptive life choices while amplifying social and emotional uncertainties, destabilizing traditional family structures. Using a one‐way fixed‐effects model with country‐clustered standard errors, supplemented by robustness checks, the analysis considers economic, social, and political dimensions of globalization. The results show that social globalization has the strongest association with rising divorce rates, as cultural diffusion enhances individual autonomy, gender equality, and freedom of choice. Economic globalization also contributes by altering labor structures and household interdependence, while political globalization—through expanded personal rights—reinforces these effects more modestly. Globalization’s impact is greater in developed and Western societies, where greater financial independence and individualistic values facilitate marital dissolution. The implications, limitations, and future research directions are also discussed.
Developed country · Developing country · Globalization · Welfare · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving
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The 2023 State of Indian Families
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Merasi
Indian family relationships, marriage, and career choices in the context of globalization
Online Temptations
Remarriage, Gender, and Life Course in Contemporary Inland Rural China
Country Differences in the Effects of Divorce on Well-Being
Do the Privileged Always Win? Economic Consequences of Divorce by Income and Gender Groups
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |