Child support payments have fallen due to the recession. A more surprising fall-out of the recession is that divorce rates have also dropped or, in some cases, like in Washington, at least held steady. The number of divorces in the United States fell from 3.6 per 1,000 in 2007 to 3.4 in 2009.

The reason, most likely, is that some couples who want to get divorced are putting it off because they fear the expenses associated with divorce. Among other factors, maintaining two households costs more than maintaining one. If that theory is correct -- that people who want to get divorced are waiting -- then there is now a pent-up demand for divorce, and we will be seeing more couples getting divorced as the economy starts to improve.

As the number of divorces increases, the number of households will also increase. Each couple that has been living in one house will require a second home, which will create a need for more housing units to provide a place for these recently divorced individuals to live.

The number of housing being built has been stagnant since 2007. As the number of households starts to grow, and as demand for new houses and apartments also rises, we should see an economic boost for the construction industry.

The economic benefit will also extend beyond the construction sector, as people setting up new households need more than just four walls and a roof over their heads. They will need furniture, appliances and all the other items necessary for daily living that they used to share and will now have to provide for themselves.

According to this theory, if the people who have been waiting to get divorced file for divorce, they can help the housing market and the economy recover.

Source: Slate, "Help America: Get Divorced!" Matthew Yglesias, Jan. 31, 2012