Singlehood: Trends, Needs, and Social Policy

Over recent decades, the world has witnessed a notable rise in singlehood, with an increasing number of individuals opting to live without a long-term romantic partner. This global shift reflects broader social changes, including urbanization, the rise of the welfare state, advancements in women's rights, increased longevity, and the impact of technological innovations, particularly in communication and reproductive health. 

Despite the growing prevalence of singlehood, current policies are still largely designed around traditional family structures, often neglecting the unique needs of single individuals. Social policies, tax systems, and legal frameworks frequently disadvantage singles, who may face higher taxes, limited access to social security benefits, and inadequate workplace policies that fail to account for their specific caregiving needs and life choices. This lack of policy consideration exacerbates social inequalities and highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to address the challenges faced by single individuals. 

Our research team, composed of Elke Claessens, Zhe Zhang, Keren Eisen, Donna Ward, and Alex Fisher, and led by Elyakim Kislev, is dedicated to filling this critical gap by exercising the Singlehood Policy Index (SPI) developed by Kislev. This interdisciplinary project leverages the expertise of the team members and the collaborative environment provided by various Institutes for Advanced Studies (IAS) across Europe, funded by the IAS network through the Constructive Advanced Thinking project. 

The involvement of the IAS institutes offers rich intellectual resources and opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. Regular meetings at these institutes facilitate the refinement of the analysis of the data as well as the publishing and dissemination of its results, creating a robust index that reflects the diverse experiences of singles globally.