Future of Marriage

Americans, especially young adults, are less likely than ever to see marriage as essential for a happy, fulfilled life. Women's increasing economic and social independence and the country's growing tolerance for nontraditional lifestyles have led many young people to rank matrimony behind such goals as an advanced degree or better job. Most Millennials say they see a wedding in their future, but a significant share of that generation views marriage as an outdated institution out of step with the demands and opportunities of contemporary culture. At the same time, many couples are remaining single or cohabitating because of high debt, job instability and other financial challenges. That has made marriage increasingly the province of the wealthy and well-educated, leading some experts to argue that the government should do more to help boost marriage rates. Meanwhile, online dating sites and mobile apps are growing in popularity, inspiring new research on the permanence of marriages made in cyberspace.