The gender gap in the economic well-being of nonresident fathers and custodial mothers

Using a unique sample of couples with children, we estimate the gender gap in economic well-being after marital separation, something that previous st udies of individuals who divorce have not been able to do. The income-to-ne eds levels of formerly married mothers are only 56% those of their former h usbands. The postseparation gender gap is reduced if the wife was employed full-time and was an above-average earner before marital disruption. The ga p is also relatively small among the least economically independent wives, those who were not employed before separation. For the latter group, the hu sband's relatively low income tends to reduce the gender gap.