Published in:
Population and Environment 2015 pp. 1-20.
DOI: 10.1007/s11111-015-0236-5
Abstract:
Earlier studies argue that a greater prevalence of divorce increases energy use since divorce increases the number of smaller households that tend to be less energy efficient due to economics of scale. However, divorced individuals also have, on net, considerably lower fertility than individuals who are continuously married. In the current study, we employ a dynamic household projection model that incorporates the effects of divorce on fertility, thereby allowing us to consider both short (40-year horizon) and long-term (exceeding 40 years) effects of divorce on energy consumption. We find that, whereas increased divorce rates lead to higher residential energy use in the short run, divorce is likely to imply lower domestic energy use in the longer term.