In this podcast episode of Notre Dame Stories, Melissa Kearney, the Gilbert F. Schaefer Professor of Economics and director of the Strengthening Families Research Initiative, explores the decline in marriage, the rise of single-parent households, and the falling fertility rates in the United States. Drawing on decades of research, she connects these trends to economic inequality, child well-being, and public policy—making the case that strengthening families is essential to improving outcomes across society.
Listen and subscribe to Notre Dame Stories, the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame, wherever you get your podcasts.
Originally published by at al.nd.edu on April 15, 2026.