Duringtheperiodfrom1997to2007,thenumberofmarriagedecreasedfrom9.51millionto8.48million,whilethenumberofdivorcerosefrom0.8millionto1.21million.
Webelievethatthreereasonsmayaccountforthisphenomenon.
First,youngpeopleofmarriageagearebecomingfewerandfewer
becauseofthefamilyplanningpolicyadoptedsincethelate1970s.
Second,thecurrentsocietyisonewherefiercecompetitiontakesplaceeverywhere,
andmanyyoungpeoplecan’tandwon’tgetmarriedbeforetheyembarkonapromisingcareer.
Third,today’speopleputmoreandmoreemphasisonindependenceandfreedom—
theywon’tgetmarriedbeforetheyfindanidealpartner,
andtheywillnothesitatetosaygoodbyewhenthesparkoflovediesdown.
Thegreatchange,inmymind,signalsthefundamentalshiftinpeople’sviewonfamilyandmarriage.
Thistrendwillprobablycontinueascontemporarypeoplepaymoreandmoreattentiontohigh-qualitymarriage.