A Comparative Analysis of Divorce Rates in Canada and the United States, 1921-1967

A time series analysis of Canadian and American divorce rates for the 1921-1967 time span is performed to examine, in a comparative perspective, the effects of prosperity (indicated by income), war and depression conditions on divorce. Various regression models are utilized for this exercise. The major finding is that the Canadian society showed a delayed response to both prosperity (or depression) and war conditions while the United States was much quicker with its response. Income and war-income interaction facilitated higher incidence of divorce while depression superficially decreased the same in both the nations. Even though the two countries reacted in the same manner, American levels were always higher than those in Canada.