[bryanlarsen]

That's an argument that should be increasing the number of dual parent households. If a family could be supported on a single income, then abandoning your family would have fewer consequences and thus seemingly more likely.

[pixl97]

No, what you would expect to see is a drastic decrease number in the number of children born. People are choosing not to have families at all.

In late 1960 we peaked with somewhere around 47% of households having children. It is now around 26%

In 1990 the number of married couples in the US started to flatline even though the population is up 40% since then.

[bryanlarsen]

You're correct, but that's an orthogonal effect. The cost of raising children is definitely lowering the number of children.

But it also should put pressure on parents to stay together once the children are conceived.