Young Azerbaijanis are delaying marriage because they understand the costs that follow a wedding, while many couples do not discuss a shared budget until they are already repaying celebration-related debt, professor Zahid Mammadov said.
Mammadov raised the issue during a television discussion, arguing that debate over falling marriage rates and divorce too often stops at general appeals to protect family values.
He said researchers should examine specific factors including employment, income, spouses’ financial obligations and relationships within the family. Without that work, he said, it is difficult to determine which policies could help.
Who Pays After the Wedding?
Mammadov said couples should agree before marriage on how costs will be divided. Wedding decorations, performers and other expenses may be financed with borrowed money that the newlyweds must repay after the celebration.
Household bills and costs associated with having a child then add to those obligations. If future spouses have not agreed on who will cover which payments, financial disagreements can become a source of conflict.
Mammadov called for education on managing a family budget. Prospective spouses should discuss income, savings, debt and spending habits in advance, he said, particularly when one person tends to save and the other tends to spend.
Research, Not Slogans
The professor did not attribute family problems only to money. The discussion also addressed spouses’ responsibilities, mutual respect and the harm caused by humiliating a partner.
Mammadov said specialized institutions should rely on research that identifies the causes of family problems and offers practical solutions. General statements about the importance of family are not enough, he said.
Source: Vesti Baku.