2024 Election Results Confirm Public Safety Is a Priority for Americans

by Josh Crawford | Nov 14, 2024

Voting preferences in the 2024 election confirm that better public safety is a priority for Americans.

2024 Election Results Confirm Public Safety Is a Priority for Americans

Key Points

In state and local elections, voters across the political spectrum chose candidates who shared their priority for greater public safety and order.
The 2024 election results underscore an important pillar of healthy communities: Safety is the first step to stability and prosperity.

In state and local elections, voters across the political spectrum chose candidates who shared their priority for greater public safety and order.

While the 2024 election represents different things to different voters, it may well be remembered, as my friend Rafael Mangual of the Manhattan Institute put it, as the “anti-crime election.”

In recent years, there has been a divide between elected officials and the public when it comes to crime. As more local leaders have taken relaxed stances to public safety, voters have become increasingly concerned.

With the 2024 election, this crime divide between voters and politicians has narrowed because voters changed their politicians. As Mangual lays out in a great new piece in City Journal, voters all over the country rejected soft-on-crime approaches to public safety, including in progressive enclaves like Oakland, CA.

Search Interest by State in Crime

In the 2024 Election, crime was consistently a top issue being searched across all 50 states.

Source: Associated Press, “What election issues are Americans searching on Google?”, October 2024

From Georgia to California, voters reject the “progressive prosecutor” movement

Voters’ frustration with soft-on-crime prosecutors began in 2022 with the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin and continued with the defeat of Portland-area District Attorney Mike Schmidt earlier this year.

For residents favoring law and order and a return to normalcy, another boost came on election day. The biggest news of the day was the defeat of Los Angeles District Attorney George Gasćon.

Gasćon had run on a progressive platform and quickly made good on his promises. He declined to pursue the death penalty in capital murder cases, instructed his office to avoid seeking lengthy sentences in gang and gun cases through available sentence enhancements, and diverted more and more cases from prosecution. Gasćon lost his re-election bid by a margin of 60-40.

Closer to home, in Athens, GA, progressive District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez lost to challenger Kalki Yalamanchili by almost the same margin. In Tampa, FL, incumbent Andrew Warren, suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis over his non-prosecution policies, lost to a law-and-order challenger. In total, of the 25 progressive prosecutors on the ballot this election, 12 either lost or were recalled.

Voters favor local candidates and ballot measures focused on stronger public safety

Voters also showed a pro-public safety bent on election day in their support of ballot initiatives. In California, voters approved an initiative to enhance penalties for repeat drug and theft offenses. Colorado residents overwhelmingly passed a ballot initiative that increases consequences for violent offenses.

Voters in San Francisco elected a mayor who plans to get tough on the drug dealing plaguing the city. Oakland residents also recalled their mayor who, through a mix of bad policy and benign neglect, had let violent crime spiral.

Americans repeatedly told pollsters ahead of the 2024 election that they were concerned about crime. On November 5, they voted like it. The 2024 election may well be remembered for voters demanding better and reminding elected officials of what every leader should remember—that the first step to a prosperous community is a safe one.

Why Focus More on Public Safety and Order? Kids Need More of It.

by David Bass | Sep 17, 2024

A new book, Doing Right by Kids, explores the impact that community violence has on children's opportunities for economic and social mobility.

Why Focus More on Public Safety and Order? Kids Need More of It.

Key Points

Community violence is one of the factors examined in a new book called “Doing Right by Kids,” which examines how we can improve relationships, institutions, and community environments to expand upward mobility among kids.
The book features a chapter from GCO’s director of criminal justice initatives, Josh Crawford, explaining how community violence affects kids and their futures. See an excerpt below.
“Doing Right by Kids” is a thoughtful, accessible guide to improving opportunities in the communities where children’s lives are formed. Get a copy of the book here.

Public safety and community violence are more critical now than they have ever been. With increasing societal tensions and the lingering effects of the pandemic, Americans—including Georgians—want to feel secure in their neighborhoods. The path to achieving this sense of security is clear: fund the police, hold violent offenders accountable, and ensure a fair and just system that doesn’t allow fear and lawlessness to prevail.

At the Georgia Center for Opportunity, we believe that addressing public safety and community violence is essential for creating thriving communities. This belief is echoed in a new book, “Doing Right by Kids: Leveraging Social Capital and Innovation to Increase Opportunity,” which features a pivotal chapter by our very own Josh Crawford, GCO’s director of criminal justice initiatives.

In his chapter, Josh explores the significant impact of public safety and community violence on children and provides insightful solutions for rebuilding social capital and fostering safe environments.

Below is an excerpt from Josh’s chapter, “Kids and Community Violence: Costs, Consequences, and Solutions.” You can also read the full chapter here.

A new book, Doing Right by Kids, offers new ideas for improving upward mobility for disadvantaged kids.

When it comes to improving opportunities for kids, we need better ideas. Now they’re here.

Get your copy of Doing Right by Kids

A new book, Doing Right by Kids, offers new ideas for improving upward mobility for disadvantaged kids in America.

When it comes to improving opportunities for kids, we need better ideas. Now they’re here.
Get your copy of “Doing Right by Kids” today.

“Doing Right by Kids” Excerpt: Why Focus More on Public Safety and Public Order?

Walk into any suburban coffee shop in a low-crime neighborhood and look around. You’ll quickly notice the tables are populated by tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of laptops and smartphones, and designer purses sit on the floor. These items often go unguarded when patrons pick up their coffees or go to the bathroom. It’s the normal course of business in these establishments. No one fears these items will be stolen. There is an unconscious presupposition of public safety. This is what happens when the public order is upheld.

When this presumption of safety falls apart, however, people change their behavior. Following the expansion of remote work during the coronavirus pandemic, workers in New York City cited violence and crime as the primary reasons for not wanting to return to the office. Research on crime avoidance also finds that households will pay a premium to avoid violence. One 2011 study of families in the San Francisco Bay Area in California found that the average household was willing to pay $472 per year to avoid a 10 percent increase in violent crime.

The United States has had varying degrees of success in public safety over the years. In the modern context, violent crime peaked in the United States in 1991 with 758.1 instances per 100,000 people, an increase of more than 470 percent from 1960. Homicide, the most destructive and permanent of the violent offenses, peaked in 1980 at a rate of 10.2 per 100,000 residents and in 1991 with a rate of 9.8 per 100,000 residents; in 1960 the murder rate had been almost half that at 5.1 per 100,000 residents.

After 1991, as a result of a number of changes in policing, sentencing, and a wide array of other hotly debated factors, homicide and violent crime declined significantly in cities across the country (Figures 1 and 2). This decline continued until 2014, when the homicide rate reached 4.4 per 100,000 and the violent-crime rate was 379.4 per 100,000. While this was a huge improvement from the highs of 1991, the violent-crime rate in 2014 was still more than double the rate in 1960. It has trended in the wrong direction in recent years, with a jump in homicides in 2020.

Figure 1. US Homicide Rate per 100,000, 1960-2022

As of 2014, the violent crime rate was still more than double the rate in 1960.

Figure 2. US Violent-Crime Rate per 100,000, 1960-2022

US Violent Crime Rate Trend per 100,000 from 1960-2022.

While the long-run decline in crime is important, it is ultimately too reassuring because no one lives in “the nation.” Aggregated data erase important variations from state to state, city to city, and neighborhood to neighborhood. People live in communities, not the whole nation.

Despite these declines in violent crime often being disproportionately experienced in disadvantaged neighborhoods, violence continues to concentrate at the sub-city level. One study of gun violence in Boston, for example, found that these crimes were concentrated in less than five percent of one-block street segments and intersections. The “law of crime concentration” generally states that in large cities, about 50 percent of crime occurs in about five percent of street segments. Crime is even more concentrated in smaller cities, where, on average, between two and four percent of street segments are responsible for 50 percent of violence. These micro-communities lack the minimum levels of safety and order that are precursors for human flourishing, and the effects of their violence propagate beyond these few hot zones.

Philosopher and political theorist James Burnham observed:

Human beings must have at least a minimum security in life and property, must be able to move through the streets and between the cities, must accept certain common rules in their mutual intercourse, or civilization does not exist. If this necessary order is subverted, the civilization is destroyed, whether the subversion takes place from the best or worst of motives, whether or not it is in some supposedly moral sense justified, whether it is carried out by saints or devils. At some point the guardians of a civilization must be prepared to draw the line.

For far too many children, this kind of order has been inconsistent at best and nonexistent at worst. For children in these neighborhoods, violence is pervasive and affects them both directly and indirectly. Those directly affected are the youth that join criminal street gangs and become perpetrators, as well as those who are either victimized themselves or kin to victims. Those indirectly affected are those who neither become perpetrators nor victims but who contend with the persistent fear, stress, and isolation that comes with growing up in a community with high rates of violence.

Bridging the gap for America’s kids

Overall, “Doing Right By Kids” explores the truth that, while material hardship among American children is at an all-time low, upward mobility is still difficult for children in poor households and neighborhoods. Despite reduced hardship, children born to disadvantaged parents are still likely to grow up disadvantaged due to counterproductive policies within our safety net.

The belief that increased financial support alone will advance poor children is inadequate. While progressive strategies have fallen short, conservative skepticism towards government intervention has also neglected the needs of these children.

Truly supporting America’s kids requires focusing on the building blocks of healthy and fulfilling lives—from neighborhood environments to family life to educational opportunities. “Doing Right By Kids” offers innovative proposals to rebuild social capital by strengthening relationships and institutions for children and adolescents, advocating for experimental approaches to identify effective, scalable policies.

For policymakers, community leaders, parents, and concerned citizens, “Doing Right by Kids” is a thoughtful, accessible guide to learning more about what kids really need from us and our society in order to thrive.

Go here to get a copy and to share the book with neighbors and colleagues.

Poverty and Crime in America: What Can Happen in a Neighborhood When Violent Crime Goes Up

by Josh Crawford | Aug 19, 2024

An empty street and closed businesses illustrate the real-life impact of crime on poverty in a community.

Poverty and Crime in America: What Can Happen in a Neighborhood When Violent Crime Goes Up

Key Points

As Americans become more skeptical of the American Dream, an important issue to address is the link between poverty and violent crime.
Research has found that violent crime negatively affects property values, employment, and outcomes for children.
Providing a safe environment is a core government responsibility, and it’s essential for lowering fear, improving economic mobility, and building healthy communities.

A recent Pew Research Center poll examined American attitudes about the attainability of the American dream. Overall, 53% of respondents believed the American dream was still possible.

Responses were remarkably consistent across race and differed only slightly by party affiliation (56% for Republicans, 50% for Democrats).

Age was the factor where more drastic differences of opinion started to emerge. The younger the cohort, the lower the percentage of respondents who felt the American dream was still possible.

Age 65+: 68% believed the American dream was still possible.
Age 50-64: 61% thought the American dream was still possible.
Age 30-49: 43% felt the American dream was still possible.
Age 18-29: Just 39% agreed the American dream was still possible.

Among the youngest groups, a larger percentage—48% of 30 to 49-year-olds and 51% of 18 to 29-year-olds—thought the American dream was once possible but no longer was.

The current attainability of the American dream is subject to much debate, not fleshed out here. One factor that deserves more attention is the role of public safety in shaping communities where people have opportunities for a better life for themselves and future generations.

Of all the barriers to opportunity, violence is one of the most vicious because it can single-handedly upend all the building blocks of a flourishing life—family stability, access to quality education, and work opportunities. And a disproportionate amount of this suffering is borne by our poorest and most vulnerable communities.

Nearly 50% of According to Pew Research polling, Americans think the American Dream is no possible.

The impact of crime on children

Future generations have a harder time getting ahead in life.

It’s clear from the data that nearly half of children raised in the poorest households—the bottom 20% of incomes—end up in that bottom 20% as adults. A tremendous number of factors contribute to this cycle of poverty—from the flaws in government safety net programs to the affordability of housing to improving educational options and outcomes.

Then there’s the link between poverty and crime. One of the most visceral and heartbreaking things that impacts a child’s upward mobility is growing up in a community with a high rate of violence.

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, about 3.6 million kids live in communities their parents deem to be “unsafe.”

The level of violent crime in a county negatively affects the level of upward economic mobility among individuals raised in low-income families. Opportunities decline because high rates of violence reduce productivity among crime victims, depress economic activity, reduce home values, and drive out residents who can leave.

In communities struggling with poverty, violent crime can lead to worse outcomes for kids.

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, about 3.6 million kids live in communities their parents deem to be “unsafe.”

The impact of crime on local economies

Communities become economically unhealthy.

A relationship between poverty and crime also manifests itself in the effects that violence has on employment. Several studies have demonstrated that direct victimization is associated with more unemployment and less productivity at work.

A study of violent trauma patients found a positive association between victimization and unemployment.
Another study found that, following the homicide of a family member, employment went down 27% among surviving family members.
In a sample of parents whose children had been murdered, more than 50% of the parents perceived themselves as nonproductive at their jobs in the four months after the murder.

High rates of violent crime don’t just impact victims. Rising crime has been negatively associated with business activity, resulting in downsizing and discouraging new businesses from entering the marketplace.

Neighborhoods then lose out on opportunities for jobs and affordable access to food, household items, and other essential goods and services.

One large analysis looked at the impact of gun violence on the economic health of neighborhoods in six cities: Baton Rouge, LA; Minneapolis, MN; Oakland, CA; Rochester, NY; San Francisco, CA; and Washington, DC. The findings were remarkably consistent. An increase in gun violence in a census tract reduced the growth rate of new retail and service establishments by 4% in Minneapolis, Oakland, San Francisco, and Washington, DC.

In Minneapolis, each additional gun homicide in a census tract in a given year was associated with 80 fewer jobs the next year; in Oakland, a gun homicide was associated with 10 fewer jobs the next year.

“Local and state governments must focus on reducing violent crime, not just as necessary to protect human life but also because doing so is a prerequisite to real economic opportunity in poor communities.”

Josh Crawford, GCO Director of Criminal Justice Initiatives

The impact of crime on neighborhoods

Communities stop becoming places that people want to call home.

Studies have also found that increases in gun violence hurt property values.

In Minneapolis: Each additional gun homicide resulted in a $22,000 decrease in average home values in Minneapolis census tracts.
In Oakland: Each additional gun homicide resulted in a $24,621 decrease in Oakland census tracts.
In Los Angeles: A separate study found that increases in violent crime in a neighborhood in a given year yielded decreases in property values in that neighborhood the following year.

And those who can leave communities with high rates of violence, do. One estimate found that, for every homicide, 70 residents move out of a neighborhood.

Finally, increased violent crime often, justifiably, leads to more incarceration. But communities with higher rates of incarcerated parent-aged men often have weaker social institutions and are more unstable.

To have vibrant communities and flourishing lives, public safety must take priority.

Improving economic conditions and opportunities for any community, but especially low-income neighborhoods, is incredibly difficult without first reducing violence.

One of the most recent examples is the great crime decline of the 1990s, which dramatically improved the most desperate neighborhoods and improved life among their residents.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Decades of policy innovation, evaluation, and replication have taught us how to make communities safer and break the interconnected cycles of poverty and crime.

The most effective methods include:

Focusing law enforcement efforts on criminal street gangs
Punishing violent recidivists appropriately
Reducing the presence of abandoned buildings in crime hot spots

People have a deep need to feel safe and secure in the places where they live, work, and go about their day-to-day lives. Providing a safe environment is government’s first responsibility to its people.

When it comes to public safety, making good policy choices changes lives—not only by reducing physical harm but also by transforming neighborhoods into places where the American Dream can still be found.

Visit our public safety resource page to learn more about policy solutions and see recommendations for specific cities.

How safety-net benefits discourage low-income workers from escaping poverty

by David Bass | Aug 8, 2024

The proven building blocks of child development can empower communities to get involved in helping parents raise highly capable kids.

How safety-net benefits discourage low-income workers from escaping poverty

Key Points

A new research paper from GCO shows the ways social safety-net programs like food stamps and Medicaid provide critical support but also discourage career advancement.
The “benefits cliff” is a significant barrier, where earning more can mean losing benefits, deterring workers from seeking higher-paying jobs.
Government benefits can blur the true income disparity between low-income and middle-income households.
Policy reforms are needed to remove these barriers and encourage upward mobility.

At a time when income inequality and lack of economic mobility are hot topics, a report from the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) sheds light on how our social safety-net system could be contributing to these trends.

Entitled “Workforce Engagement: A Missing Link in Understanding Income Inequality,” the report explores how government support unintentionally discourages low-income workers from escaping poverty. The report also presents actionable policy solutions to avoid that trap.

What Are Safety-Net Benefits?

Safety-net systems include programs like food stamps, housing subsidies, and Medicaid, designed to provide financial assistance to those in need. While these programs are essential, they can inadvertently create barriers to long-term financial independence. This phenomenon is known as the “benefits cliff,” where individuals and families turn down career advancement opportunities to avoid losing government benefits.

The Source of Income Disparities

The GCO report reveals that government benefits often obscure the true income disparities between low-income and middle-income households.

When examining work-capable households, the unearned income from government benefits can paint a misleading picture of economic equality. Without these benefits, it’s clear that households in the lowest income quintile earn significantly less than their counterparts in higher income quintiles.

The report also highlights how these safety-net benefits can create disincentives for the lowest-paid workers to move up the economic ladder. For instance, after adjusting for taxes and transfer payments, the net income of households in the lowest quintile is almost equal to those in the second quintile, despite the latter earning nearly four times more.

This equalization is largely driven by government transfers, which provide significantly more support to the bottom quintile compared to the second quintile. This scenario leads to nearly identical average per capita net incomes between these groups.

The cover of the Worker Engagment report

Workforce Engagement

A Missing Link in Understanding Income Inequality

The compelling new report that examines the unintended consequences of our nation’s social safety-net system on low-wage workers.

Download the full report

Policy Recommendations

Understanding the dynamics of income inequality and the unintended consequences of social safety-net systems is crucial for fostering economic mobility and improving the quality of life for low-income workers.

To boost workforce engagement and reduce reliance on social safety nets, the report suggests several policy reforms:

Reducing Benefits Cliffs: Adjust thresholds for benefit eligibility to prevent sudden losses of support as income increases.
Work Incentives: Offer incentives for part-time workers to transition into full-time roles.
Education and Training: Provide better access to educational resources and vocational training programs.

GCO is dedicated to working within underserved communities to understand the realities of poverty and the public policies that perpetuate it. Our previous research, including on intergenerational poverty, underscores that America’s social safety net is designed to address situational poverty rather than systemic poverty.

Want our kids to be seen, heard, and valued? Get the community involved.

by Joyce Mayberry | Aug 6, 2024

Want our kids to be seen, heard, and valued? Get the community involved.

Key Points

Community is a powerful force in the journey of raising healthy, happy kids. Research shows that relationships with others, especially adults, shape who children become.
A powerful tool for parents and communities is understanding the research-based building blocks of child development.
Engaging with these building blocks empowers communities to better address the physical, emotional, and social needs involved in raising kids well.

Research shows that children’s relationships with others—extended family members, caregivers, teachers, coaches, and the broader community—shape who they become as adults.

If these relationships are positive and nurturing, then kids learn that the world is safe and secure and that they are loved.

At the Georgia Center for Opportunity, we believe that community is a powerful force in the journey of raising healthy, happy kids.

What happens in homes and communities has the greatest impact on the outcomes of each person’s life. After all, families and neighborhoods are the first places where people learn to love and trust one another, to live in community, and to sacrifice for others.

This dynamic is especially important for children in difficult situations, whether it be poverty and or other disadvantages. Children thrive when they have access to nurturing relationships and supportive environments, which help the development of important life skills.

When these supports are lacking, children may face additional challenges, including mental health struggles, difficulty finding employment, and economic hardship. By giving parents and communities tools to address these needs, we can shape better outcomes for all children.

According to the Search Institute, young people need positive relationships with three or more adults outside of their family to help them become healthy, responsible, caring adults themselves.

Children’s lives are formed in community

“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” (Margaret J. Wheatley)

While parents are the first and best teachers for their kids, children’s lives are shaped by many different people, places, and experiences within their community.

GCO’s Raising Highly Capable Kids (RHCK) program gives communities a resource that’s designed to involve parents, caregivers, teachers, and broader communities equipping kids with skills and behaviors that will carry them into a successful future.

RHCK teaches these through a research-based framework known as the 40 Developmental Assets. The effect of these developmental assets is even more powerful when whole communities understand and engage with them.

Young people need more relationships with positive adult role models for their development.

What happens when a community embraces the building blocks of raising highly capable kids?

Shared responsibility: Involving the community ensures that children’s development and education is shared among the most important influences in kids’ lives—parents, educators, coaches, caregivers, and local organizations.

Holistic support: Community involvement provides access to a range of resources and support systems that can serve the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive needs that are essential to raising highly capable kids.

Diverse perspectives: Communities are rich in diversity—with individuals from different cultural, socioeconomic, and professional backgrounds. Involving the community brings together diverse perspectives and experiences, enriching the educational process and ensuring that it’s inclusive and culturally relevant.

Stronger networks: Community involvement forms connections between parents, educators, and community leaders, creating networks that are valuable sources of information and encouragement for parents as they navigate the challenges and joys of raising their kids.

Access to resources: Communities have access to a wide range of resources like educational programs, recreational facilities, health services, and social support networks. Community involvement ensures that parents and caregivers have access to resources that enhance their ability to support their children’s development.

Positive norms and values: Communities play a crucial role in shaping the norms, values, and expectations that influence child development. By involving the community in educational initiatives focused on the 40 developmental assets, we can promote positive norms, values, and expectations that prioritize the well-being and success of children and families.

Supportive environments: Communities help create a supportive and stable environment where parents and caregivers feel empowered and encouraged in their role as primary influencers in their children’s lives. This support can boost parental confidence and resilience—enabling them to overcome challenges and advocate effectively for their children’s needs.

Sustainable impact: Communities foster a sense of ownership and investment in the well-being of children and families. By engaging the community in educational initiatives focused on the 40 developmental assets, we can invest in the well-being of children and families in a way that leads to long-term impact for current and future generations.

Our Raising Highly Capable Kids program is designed to bring parents and communities together to fostering a supportive environments and a common goal of nurturing capable and resilient kids.

Highly capable communities lead to highly capable kids

Our world is marked by constant change and uncertainty. And kids today are often pulled in directions that their parents and grandparents can barely fathom.

Communities coming together to prioritize family health and overall well-being of the parent-child relationship has never been more important in raising highly capable kids who will lead purpose-driven, meaningful lives.

The goal of RHCK is to empower anyone who works with kids and youth—including parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, church and business leaders—to pool collective resources, knowledge, and experiences. This type of collaboration creates a support network to raise the next generation to become valued, flourishing members of the community.

Whether it’s through RHCK or another opportunity, the reality on the ground remains the same: Children’s growth and development is shaped by those closest to them.

By reaching into homes, schools, and faith-based groups, we can ensure communities are nurturing places where families can thrive and future generations have good opportunities for enriching relationships, meaningful work, and better quality of life.

Marriage Rates in Georgia Are Down. But Marriage Still Matters For Quality of Life and Upward Mobility.

by David Bass | Jun 27, 2024

Marriage rates in Georgia are down, which is a factor to watch for overall well-being.

Marriage Rates in Georgia Are Down. But Marriage Still Matters For Quality of Life and Upward Mobility.

Key Points

Georgia has seen a decline in marriage rates, mirroring a national trend. Only 30% of Georgians have been married at least once, and U.S. marriage rates have fallen by nearly 60% over the past 50 years.
Despite these trends, marriage remains a significant predictor of adult well-being, more so than education, race, age or gender. Married individuals often report higher happiness and satisfaction levels, and benefits include emotional stability, financial security, and social support.
We must address economic, education, and social safety-net barriers to marriage while creating a supporting environment that fosters marriage and family formation.

Recent reports, including a piece from Axios, have highlighted a concerning trend in Georgia—declining marriage rates.

According to data from the American Community Survey, only 30% of Georgians have been married at least once in their lives. This is indicative of a larger national trend: The marriage rate across the U.S. has fallen by nearly 60% over the past 50 years.

While societal pressures to marry have lessened and many young people doubt the benefits of marriage, this decline raises important questions about the impact on individual well-being and societal mobility.

Marriage rates in Georgia are a leading factor in quality of life

Helping people form healthy, committed relationships is a key pillar of the Georgia Center for Opportunity’s mission to help all Georgians flourish. Relationships are essential to well-being in general, but marriage has a particular impact on the quality of life and upward mobility for men, women, and children.

Quality of life

Marital status is one of the strongest predictors of adult well-being, surpassing other factors like education, race, age, and gender. According to the Institute for Family Studies and Gallup, married individuals often report higher levels of happiness and satisfaction compared to their unmarried peers. This isn’t just about companionship—marriage can provide emotional stability, financial security, and social support, all of which contribute to a better quality of life.

Upward mobility

Marriage also plays a critical role in economic mobility. Couples often benefit from dual incomes, shared resources, and consolidated expenses, making it easier to save and invest in the future. This financial stability can lead to better opportunities in terms of education, homeownership, and overall wealth accumulation. Essentially, marriage can act as a catalyst for achieving a higher economic status and breaking free from cycles of poverty.

Benefits for children

Children raised in two-parent, married families often experience greater stability and economic advantages, contributing significantly to their overall well-being. Additional research from the Institute for Family Studies shows that children who live in households with married parents experience more financially secure environments, less conflict, and more parental support.

Marital status is key factor in personal well-being and quality of life.

According to polling from Gallup, married people report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. This is another indicator of how essential relationships are for personal well-being and quality of life.

Marital status is a key factor for personal well-being and quality of life.

Certain barriers in Georgia make marriage and its benefits hard to pursue

Despite marriage’s benefits, Georgia has several barriers that discourage marriage as a path to fulfilling relationships and flourishing lives. Educational challenges and a social safety net that frequently discourages marriage are a couple of significant roadblocks that can make it harder for people to pursue marriage.

Educational challenges

Educational attainment is another significant barrier. Those with higher levels of education are more likely to marry, but educational opportunities are not evenly distributed across the state. Addressing these disparities could encourage higher marriage rates and, consequently, greater upward mobility.

A social safety net that punishes marriage

Another significant barrier to marriage in Georgia is the “marriage penalty” embedded within many social safety net programs. The term refers to the phenomenon where low-income individuals or couples may actually lose financial benefits by getting married.

Programs such as Medicaid, housing assistance, and food stamps often have income thresholds that discourage marriage. When two low-income individuals marry, their combined income might exceed these thresholds, leading to a reduction or complete loss of benefits—creating a “benefits cliff.”

This financial disincentive can make marriage less appealing for low-income individuals who rely on these crucial programs to make ends meet. By losing access to necessary support, the economic stability that marriage can potentially offer is compromised, perpetuating a cycle where the cons outweigh the pros.

Addressing these safety-net barriers is essential for fostering an environment where marriage can thrive and contribute positively to individual and societal well-being.

The way forward

While the decline in marriage rates in Georgia is a complex issue influenced by various societal and economic factors, it’s essential to recognize the underlying benefits of marriage. Beyond the romantic ideals, marriage plays a pivotal role in enhancing quality of life and facilitating upward mobility.

To counteract the downward trend, it’s necessary to address the barriers that discourage marriage and create a more supportive environment for couples.