ABSTRACT
The economic well-being of a large and growing percentage of children in the United States is partly dependent upon the nature of our child-support institutions. At present one of five children is potentially eligible for child support, and nearly one of every two children born today will become eligible for child support at some point before reaching age 18 (Bumpass 1984). Given that such a large proportion of the next generation will be affected, the quality of our child-support institutions is of vital interest to the nation.
