Why are men choosing not to marry anymore?

[Warpy]

54. A lot of them have live in girlfriends, the best of all worlds.

The girlfriends often think marriage is unnecessary even if they have a child or two with the guy. They've seen the mess even an amicable civil divorce causes and want no part of it. It's also an economic decision, neither partner willing to pay the marriage penalty for spouses who don't stay home to raise the kiddies.


It's not a matter of men not wanting to be trapped. It's more often a mutual decision, no one wanting the expense and prolonged agony of divorce or the ding their paychecks will get from the tax man if they make it legal.

Relatively rare but increasing in number are the old folks who would marry for the companionship but are loath to let go of their full Social Security benefits in exchange for the married couple payment, which is considerably lower. They are increasingly doing shackups, too.