In the article we test the hypothesis that the weakening of family ties, as measured by reduction of marriages and a cascade of divorces, caused economic slowdown in Poland. We also suppose (second hypothesis) that the level of economic growth and welfare facilitate life for oneself, make the individuals apart thus limiting the number of marriages and resulting in increasing number of divorces. We verify these hypotheses by using an econometric model. The model consists of 6 equations and exhibits the feedback between GDP and some variables representing social capital, marriages disintegration especially. The divorce influence on economic growth has parabolic shape ‒ high divorce rates have a negative impact on the economy. High divorce rat...