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• More diverse families. The U.S. population is becoming more diverse, and this is reflected in the changing family structure. In 2021, 45.3% of U.S. children were born to unmarried parents, and 50.2% of children under the age of 18 were living in households with at least one person of color.

The economy has contributed to these changes in a number of ways. For example, the rising cost of housing and education has made it more difficult for young adults to afford to get married and have children. Additionally, the increasing number of women in the workforce has led to more women delaying marriage and childbearing in order to pursue their careers.

**One theory that I learned in this module that can be applied to the relationship between the family and the economy is the economic family model. This theory argues that the family is a rational economic actor that makes decisions based on the costs and benefits of different options. For example, parents may decide to have fewer children or delay having children if they believe that the cost of raising children is too high.

The economic family model can be used to explain some of the changes in the U.S. family structure. For example, the rising cost of housing and education has made it more costly to raise children. This has led some couples to delay having children or to have fewer children than they would have otherwise.

Another way that the economy has contributed to changes in the U.S. family structure is through the increasing number of women in the workforce. When women have jobs, they are more likely to delay marriage and childbearing in order to pursue their careers. Additionally, women who work outside the home are more likely to divorce, which can lead to an increase in single-parent households.

The relationship between the family and the economy is complex and multifaceted. However, the economic family model can be used to explain some of the key changes that have occurred in the U.S. family structure in recent decades.