There was a great article on reader's digest about deadbeat dads. The only thing I can find on the net is:
http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2001/04/deadbeat.html
Bascially the original article said that in the majority of cases the picture made about the deadbeat dad was untrue. Because of the myth, fathers get hit hard in the courts. The showed one guy who makes $150,000/yr, and was paying $7,000/mo to his wife. I think $4,000/mo in alimony and another $3,000/mo for child support. The guy said after taxes, he has $300/mo left to himself. The courts obviously don't give a fuck, and don't even understand the tax system.