THE IMPACT OF DIVORCE LAWS ON DIVORCE RATE IN AUSTRALIA - A TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of the two major divorce law changes in Australia on the level and the trend of divorce rates. A time series analysis indicated that the impact of the Matrimonial Causes Act was negligible, while that of the Family Law Act was substantial, but temporary in its nature. A non‐linear regression equation indicated that by 1979 the divorce rate was returning to a level consonant with the pre‐1975 trends. The authors concentrated on explaining the change related to the emergence of the 1975 law and addressed the question whether the post‐1976 increase could be regarded as indicating that the FLA undermined the stability of Australian marriages.