Year: 2003 Source: 27p. SIEC No: 20070313

This paper develops a dynamic model of household bargaining & uses it to motivate an empirical analysis of the impact changes in Canadian laws regarding the allocation of family assets upon divorce had on female suicide. Using time series data, it is shown in Ontario, the passage of Canadian legislation improving women’s rights to assets upon divorce was associated with reductions in the rate of female suicide amongst older women while not affecting younger women. As suggested by the model, the impact was asymmetric in that male suicide rates were unaffected by this change. Results were compared to data from Quebec where no comparable legislative change was made. (39 refs.)