Publication details
Inequality in Family Formation and Dissolution in Central and Eastern Europe
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2025 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Sociology Compass |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | article - open access |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.70080 |
| Keywords | central and eastern europe; divorce; education gradient; marriage; repartnering; union dissolution; union formation; unmarried cohabitation |
| Attached files | |
| Description | Comparative research on socioeconomic inequalities in family transitions has largely overlooked Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) both before and after 1989, often applying broad theories without accounting for regional specificities or focusing too narrowly on single countries. Despite a shared legacy of socialism, CEE countries show considerable heterogeneity in family systems and post-transition developments. This review synthesizes evidence on the SES gradient in union formation and dissolution, highlighting emerging inequalities: most notably the selective decline in marriage, the disproportionate spread of cohabitation among the disadvantaged, and the weakening or reversal of positive gradients in union dissolution. We argue that engaging with CEE's historical and institutional context can generate new hypotheses and advance general theory on family change and stratification. |
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