The 1960s and 1970s in the United States were marked by major demographic changes. Marriage was delayed, divorce increased, fertility decreased, and there was a relative increase in nonmarital fertility. These changes led to an increase in female household headship which acted to decrease economic well-being in the population. The changes also led to a decrease in the number of children in households which acted to increase economic well-being. These two household composition changes varied by race. As a result, increased female headship and decreased number of children affected more than levels of economic well-being, the changes affected racial inequality in economic well-being as well.
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