Is Single Parenthood the Problem?

The economist Melissa Kearney argues in her book, The Two-Parent Privilege, that academics studying poverty, mobility, and family structures have avoided the self-evident truth that having two involved parents living in a stable home together is good for kids. Kearney's book has been praised by scholars on the right, who have long advocated for two-parent married families, while many on the left have concurred that this is a problem they should have been paying more attention to. The debate over the impact of single parenthood on children's well-being has been ongoing, with some arguing that it is a major contributor to poverty and social inequality, while others argue that it is a symptom of broader social and economic issues that need to be addressed1.

Here are the key bullet points:

• The economist Melissa Kearney argues in her book, The Two-Parent Privilege, that having two involved parents living in a stable home together is good for kids1.
• Kearney's book has been praised by scholars on the right, who have long advocated for two-parent married families, while many on the left have concurred that this is a problem they should have been paying more attention to1.
• The debate over the impact of single parenthood on children's well-being has been ongoing, with some arguing that it is a major contributor to poverty and social inequality, while others argue that it is a symptom of broader social and economic issues that need to be addressed1.

The ongoing debate over the impact of single parenthood on children's well-being highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of the issue, and the need for a nuanced and evidence-based approach to addressing it.