Abstract
This article examines cohabitation in Israel. Since the 1980s cohabitation has been on the rise, with heterosexual couples living together without being legally married. The purpose of this article is to address the following questions: What are the characteristics of cohabitation; what economic circumstances affect cohabitation; why is cohabitation chosen over “family” and is it becoming a threat to the family institution? The sample consisted of 50 couples. Our major findings were that cohabitation does not seem to be an alternative to marriage, but a prelude to it. We found a high correlation between the cohabitants' willingness to marry and their willingness to have children in the future. Cohabitants live in rented apartments, usually do not share a bank account, and have no formal economic agreement.
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Baloush-Kleinman, V., Sharlin, S.A. Social, Economic, and Attitudinal Characteristics of Cohabitation in Israel. Journal of Family and Economic Issues 25, 255–269 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JEEI.0000023641.81143.43
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JEEI.0000023641.81143.43