Scanned from Child Support Quarterly
Summer 1998 Edition, Volume XXIX, No. 3
A publication of the National Child Support Enforcement Association

Research

Deadbeats vs Turnips

Research is a new column in the Child Support Quarterly. It will feature interdisciplinary analytical studies - related to child support enforcement. To submit an article, contact Carol Luttrell Chair of Research Committee, (NCSEA) 617.577.7200 ext. 30452 or fax 617.621.4995. Articles should be 1200 words or less and summaries of in-depth studies with direct relevance to child support administrators, policy makers and scholars.

Carol Luttrell offers a summary Of an article by Ronald B. Mincy and Elaine J. Sorensen, Deadbeats and Turnips in Child Support Reform, published in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Vol. 17, No. 1, 44-51 (1998).

A Diverse Population

Child support reforms have focused almost exclusively on punitive measures, driven by tile stereotypical image of a "deadbeat dad" who can afford to pay child support but refuses to do so. This image fits some noncustodial parents, but ignores the diverse nature of this population. Research on child support has paid little attention to the diversity of noncustodial fathers' ability to pay child support.

Our research indicates that noncustodial fathers comprise a diverse population of dads, some of whom are too poor to pay child support, some Of whom are able to pay but do not, and others who can afford to pay and do so. Child support enforcement efforts are likely to be ineffective and even harmful if they continue to ignore the segment of the population that may have insufficient funds to pay child support.

Lack of income is a significant to child support payments for young noncustodial fathers. A sizable portion - almost 37 percent - of young noncustodial fathers are impoverished, according to our estimate (based on 1990 survey data). Not surprisingly, very few of these fathers - less that 10 percent - pay child support. We refer to impoverished fathers who do not pay child, support as "turnips' after a common saying, "You can't get blood from a turnip.

On the other hand, our analysis also shows that about a third of young noncustodial fathers are not poor yet do not pay child support. This is the population that fits the stereotypical image of a deadbeat dad. Finally, our estimates show that about 30 percent of young noncustodial fathers can afford to pay child support and do so.

Who Are Turnips and Who Are Deadbeats?

We find stark differences between turnips and deadbeat dads. Turnips have characteristics that are similar to those of long-term welfare recipients. Over half of turnips have not completed high school, have never married and are African American. Thirty percent of turnips did not work in 1990. Their personal income averaged only $3,559 that year.

In contrast, the average deadbeat dad-who is able to pay child support but does not - is considerably more successful in the labor market than the average turnip. In 1990, over 70 percent of deadbeat dads were working the entire year and earned, on average, about $20,000. Their family income was even higher, averaging $33,000. Over half of them were white and nearly three-quarters had completed high school. Furthermore, over half of the deadbeat dads were married and had a new family with new children to support.

On average, turnips have considerably less income than deadbeat dads. They also face employment barriers that the average deadbeat dad does not. They are younger and more likely to have less work experience. Finally, turnips are more likely to have never married and to be living with relatives, while deadbeat dads tend to be married living with their own children.

Policy Implications

These findings suggest that it is time for child support enforcement policy to recognize the diversity among noncustodial parents. More aggressive and punitive enforcement efforts directed toward turnips may not always have the desired effect on collections. Heightened efforts to collect from nonpaying dads, if inappropriately targeted, may only push more noncustodial parents into poverty and discourage them from formally supporting their children.

Anew approach to child support enforcement is needed. Increased collections should continue to be aggressively pursued from fathers who can afford to pay without impoverishing themselves or their family. In addition, fathers need flexible child support orders that both reflect their current economic circumstances"s and provide employment and training assistance to enable them to meet their child support obligations in the future.

Related Studies

Research on child support has tended to focus on subgroups of nonresident fathers. Studies that focus on divorced fathers have found that they could pay more child support (See Nichols-Casebolt (1986) and Teachnian (1990)). Other studies have found that inner-city nonresident fathers have a limited ability to pay child support (See Furstenberg (1995) and Stier and Tienda (1993)). Studies that examine young noncustodial fathers have shown that young noncustodial parents have lower earnings than other young men in their age group. (See Lemian and Ooms (1993) and Pirog-Good and Good (1995)). Still other studies found that nonresident out-of-wedlock fathers with a child support order have half the income of divorced fathers with a child support order (See Phillips and Garfield (1993)). Sorensen (1997), the only research that has focused on all nonresident fathers finds that overall, nonresident fathers could afford to pay more child support.