Introduction
The rates of marriage in the United States have significantly declined to a historic low. Actually, what we are experiencing at the moment is the overall decrease in family formation. Many American do not get into marriages for various reasons. 45.2 percent adults are single and childless which has led to reduced population growth. Worries for the future of American society has heated up as many people who prefer to be unmarried seem to be unsure of the significance of the future of children as well as society. This has turned out to be a big crisis as the American society cannot escape the consequences of marriage decline (“Facts On Unmarried Parents in the U.S.”). Therefore, this paper will discuss the decline in marriages in the United States include the positive and negative consequences it will pose in future. Additionally, personal experiences will be incorporated into the discussion.
The decline of marriage in the United States has become a major crisis because of the anticipated consequences in the future. In fact, some consequences have already been encountered. Marriage decline has both negative and positive consequences but has more negative consequences which are very critical. The decline in marriages is a crisis because the institution of marriage symbolizes core values that are essential to intimate relationships. Marriage shows a sense of purpose, stability, direction and meaning which are beneficial to adults and children (“Facts On Unmarried Parents in the U.S.”). Married people expect sexual fidelity and that fidelity has a tendency of engendering a sense of trust and security. The institution of marriage is important in teaching moral values and makes people more focused. Base on my personal experience, I have been observing the current trend of lifestyles for both unmarried people and married people. In my assessment, married people tend to be more morally upright, industrious and goal-oriented whereas most unmarried people tend to be extravagant and unfocused due to their fun life characterized by binge drinking and too much partying. This creates a link between the institution of marriage and development in the United States. Therefore, the decline of marriage, of course, stirs up crisis since it affects the economic development in the country.
The decline of marriage causes a decrease in population if several people choose to be unmarried and abstain from getting children. Avoiding marriages while engaging in sexual intercourse naturally results in the formation of single-parent families, families comprising of unmarried parents actively cohabiting (Miller). Thus, adults and children in such types of families tend to be less productive in society whereas married people and their children are productive to society. The society, however, cannot avoid the consequences of declined marriage. With the increasing decline of marriage in the United States, a significant impact will be made on the country’s economy since employees will be less productive generally making the overall economy weaker because single people are less productive. Essentially, married couples with children tend to be the most productive people. A progressive slow economic growth rate will be experienced since high rates of decreasing marriages are already taking place (Khimm 138 ). A small amount of money will be collected through taxes since married people pay more and in future, there will be few married couples. Another significant impact will be a decreased capital formation due to the lower productivity as well as wages, and minimal saving. Married people save a lot as compared to single people and in the generation of minimal marriages, low capital formation will be encountered (Khimm 139 ). Moreover, there will be a decline in services and industries that are centred on children’s needs all the way from births; diapers, clothing, teachers and schools. Additionally, there will be less contraction of houses due to the declined population caused by decrease birth rates.
The American society is rapidly heading to be a fatherless society or worse an absentee father society. The significance of marriage and most importantly the influence of fathers within families rapidly declining until it has react a critical position. It is expected that the rate of children living without their biological father will increase to 50% in the next century (Williams). The increasing loss of a father’s authority as well as their shrinking power in every family has negatively impacted single parent families. This is likely to cause significant effect on the fatherless children. Actually, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, it implies that fatherless children are at a bigger risk of getting involved in drug and substance abuses, develop mental illness, and commit suicide, poor performance in school, high chances of teenage pregnancies, and juvenile delinquency (Williams).
Decline of marriages will help to reduce the population pressures caused by the high population growth rate in the country. Marriages encourage childbearing which increases the population of the country due to giving birth to many children. High population rates cause pressure on public infrastructures such as schools, hospitals and health amenities. It also causes pressure on housing and environmental degradation to congestion (Miller). On the other hand, single people tend to have no children at all or just a few children. Therefore, this will help to reduce the population pressures making people live in harmony with enough natural resources, land and public infrastructure.
Crime rates will reduce to 4.6 per 100,000 inhabitants because the population rate will be reduced (“Facts On Unmarried Parents in the U.S.”). Since there will be fewer children being born because single people prefer having no children or just a few children, the population will decrease therefore, people will be able to secure jobs and meet their basic needs efficiently (Khimm ). This will help to reduce crimes which have been prevalent due to high populations causing lack of job opportunities which have been leading people especially the youths into crime.
Conclusion
To sum up, the decline of marriage in the United States has actually turned out to be a crisis. Critical consequences are anticipated in future and while some are currently being experienced. Marriage is highly valued by the government since it is associated with the economic development of the country. The decline of marriage has therefore become a big issue that has raised concerns. In essence, married people tend to be hardworking contributing a lot of money to the economy through taxation obtained from their investments and savings, whereas, single people tend to be extravagant and make less saving. Therefore, it is evident that marriage is important to the country’s economic development and declined marriages definitely cause a crisis.