In first-ever research, a new report quantifies a minimum $112 billion annual taxpayer cost from high rates of divorce and unmarried childbearing. It identifies national, state and local costs which account for more than $1 trillion in the last decade. This landmark scholarly study, entitled "The Taxpayer Costs of Divorce and Unwed Childbearing: First-Ever Estimates for the Nation and All 50 States," was released on April 15, 2008 at the National Press Club by four renown policy and research groups—Institute for American Values, Georgia Family Council, Institute for Marriage and Public Policy, and Families Northwest.
For the state and local taxpayers of Georgia, the study estimates that the cost of family fragmentation is at least $1.46 billion each year. The costs incurred by the state of Georgia make it the 9th highest of all 50 states. To put this figure in perspective, $1.46 billion represents almost 8 percent of the 2007 state budget of $19.2 billion. Click here to read about the study's release and here to watch video of the D.C. press conference.