It seems the recession is saving marriages. Or it might be prolonging the agony.

In Britain, The Independent reports that accountants grant thornton have found that fewer couples are divorcing. Plummeting property prices means it's just not worth it, even if it means prolonging a bad marriage. According to the report, divorce rates in England and Wales are at their lowest for 26 years thanks to the recession.

It's a similar story in the United States with reports that 4% of Americans will postpone (for that matter, 11% are postponing marriage) because of economic woes.

Writing in the New York Times, John Hopkins University sociology professor Andrew J. Cherlin says the paradox is that it will actually damage marriages. It's a trend that happens with every downturn. "The Depression destroyed the inner life of many married couples, but it was years before they could afford to file for divorce," Cherlin writes. "Today's economic slump could well generate a similar backlog of couples whose relationships have been irreparably ruined."

Just another sign of how much the recession is costing the community.
cg