This volume investigates the underlying social, economic, and cultural drivers behind the shifting patterns of marriage and cohabitation in modern society. Edited by Linda J. Waite and a team of distinguished sociologists, the work synthesizes empirical research to explain why traditional union formation has evolved so rapidly in recent decades. The contributors utilize longitudinal data and demographic analysis to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the decline of marriage and the rise of alternative intimate unions.

Experts recognize this collection as a foundational text for understanding the demographic shifts in family formation. The prose is academic and data-heavy, making it a standard reference for researchers and students in the field of sociology.