Sydney: Men wanting to sever ties with their better half need not worry now about the potential hole in the pocket.

Research has revealed that divorced husbands may actually improve their financial standing, while separated women, especially mothers, would end up worse off after a split.

The University of Essex-based Institute For Social and Economic Research carried out the study. It showed that men who left their wives were four times more likely to become richer than those who remained married.

Even fathers fared better because the true cost of bringing up children usually tops what they might have to pay in maintenance, according to a 'Herald Sun' report.

Getting divorced is "the single-most effective thing a man can do to improve his financial standing", researcher Cecile Bourreau Dubois was quoted as saying.

Researchers say the financial disparity is due mainly to men earning more and a woman losing the husband's earning power, but continuing to bear most of the financial burden while bringing the children up.

The findings were declared after interviews with 76,000 people across 11 European countries by the Institute.

The Institute is co-funded by UK Economic and Social Research Council.

ANI