Welfare Reform
Effects of a Decade of Change
Published on 30. October 2005
Book
Hardback
352 pages
978-0-674-01891-4 (ISBN)
Description
During the 1990s the United States undertook the greatest social policy reform since the Social Security Act of 1935. In Welfare Reform: Effects of a Decade of Change, Jeffrey Grogger and Lynn Karoly assemble evidence from numerous studies, including nearly three dozen social experiments, to assess how welfare reform has affected behavior. To broaden our understanding of this wide-ranging policy reform, the authors evaluate the evidence in relation to an economic model of behavior. The evidence they collect reveals the trade-offs that policymakers face in achieving the conflicting goals of promoting work, reducing dependency, and alleviating need among the poor. Finally, the authors identify numerous areas where important gaps remain in our understanding of the effects of welfare reform.
The book will be a crucial resource for policy economists, social policy specialists, other professionals concerned with welfare policy, and students.
The book will be a crucial resource for policy economists, social policy specialists, other professionals concerned with welfare policy, and students.
Reviews / Votes
It is likely that future scholarship on U.S. welfare reform will take Grogger-Karoly as the starting point, view it as the definitive assessment of the state of the art, and use it as a springboard for future research. Scholars who want to assemble and assess evidence on the effects of policy changes in other policy arenas will want to consult this work as an exemplar of how to do it well. -- Robert Plotnick, University of Washington This is an excellent book - comprehensive, well organized, and clear. It will be a widely cited and used reference in the welfare policy research community. -- Hilary Hoynes, University of California, DavisMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United States
Publishing group
Harvard University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
US School Grade: College Graduate Student
Illustrations
45 line illustrations; 27 tables
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-674-01891-4 (9780674018914)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2009
Harvard University Press
€187.99
Available for download
Persons
Jeffrey T. Grogger is Irving Harris Professor in Urban Policy, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago. Lynn A. Karoly is Senior Economist, RAND Corporation.
Content
List of Figures List of Tables Preface List of Acronyms 1. Introduction Our Approach Organization of the Book 2. Background Brief History of Federal Welfare Policy Policy and Program Changes during the 1990s Welfare-Related Outcomes in the 1990s 3. An Economic Model AFDC and the Standard Economic Model Financial Work Incentives Requirements for Work or Related Activities Time Limits Summarizing the Predictions 4. Methodological Issues Methods of Causal Inference in Studies of Welfare Reform Measuring the Policy Environment Data Sources for Welfare Outcomes Summary of Studies Included in the Analysis 5. Welfare Use and Welfare Payments Experimental Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms Observational Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms Estimates of the Effects of Reform as a Bundle Estimates of the Effect of the Economy Summary 6. Employment, Labor Supply, and Earnings Experimental Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms Observational Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms Estimates of the Effects of Reform as a Bundle Estimates of the Effect of the Economy Summary 7. Income and Poverty Experimental Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms Observational Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms Estimates of the Effects of Reform as a Bundle Estimates of the Effect of the Economy Summary 8. Family Structure Theoretical Framework and Methodological Issues Experimental Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms on Marriage Estimates of the Effects of Reform as a Bundle on Marriage Experimental Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms on Childbearing Observational Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms on Childbearing Estimates of the Effects of Reform as a Bundle on Childbearing Summary 9. Child Outcomes Theoretical Framework and Methodological Issues Experimental Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms Observational Estimates of the Effects of Specific Reforms Estimates of the Effects of Reform as a Bundle Summary 10. Theory, Evidence, and Policy Trade-offs Summarizing the Empirical Evidence Welfare, Labor Market Behavior, and Income Marriage, Childbearing, and Child Outcomes Welfare Reform as a Bundle What We Don't Know about Welfare Reform Appendix A. Sources for Experimental Study Results Appendix B. Methodology for Summary Figures in Chapter 10 References Index