Suchergebnisse

Uses data from the 1999 National Survey of America's Families (NSAF) to explore demographic differences in knowledge about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), maintaining that knowledge about the nation's largest cash transfer program is essential in order for eligible parents to receive the credit. The 25-year legislative history of EITC is summarized & differences in knowledge are explored across four divisions: state of residence; income/welfare participation; marriage/education; & race/ethnicity/citizenship. Although two-thirds of all parents have heard about EITC, low-income Hispanic parents are significantly less likely to know about the program than low-income non-Hispanic parents of any race. Hispanics are also the least likely among low-income parents to have any knowledge about EITC or to have received the tax credit. Past welfare recipients are more likely to be aware of the program than current recipients or those who have never received welfare benefits. It was also found that low-income parents residing in states with state-level EITC programs were not more likely to know about the national program. 4 Tables, 2 Figures. J. Lindroth

Economic independence is an important indicator of the transition to adulthood. This article portrays the level of economic independence among young adults, ages eighteen to thirty-two, in seven industrialized countries. The cross-national variations the authors uncover help one understand how work, family, & comparative income packages affect economic self-sufficiency. In all countries, young women are less able than are young men to become economically independent through market work alone. The ability to support a family is affected more by government transfers than the ability to support oneself. The authors also find that family support through additional income, the provision of housing, & caring labor as well as decisions to have roommates are clearly important to the economic well-being of young adults. In closing, the authors suggest several avenues for future research. 9 Figures, 1 Appendix, 40 References. [Copyright 2002 Sage Publications, Inc.]

Objective. This article examines how welfare entry rates changed during the 1990s, and also assesses whether changes in entry rates are accompanied by improvements in the circumstances of families that choose not to receive welfare.Methods. This analysis uses data from the 1990 and 1996 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation to identify three cohorts of low‐income single mothers who are potentially eligible for welfare but are not receiving benefits. Multivariate (competing risk) regression models and decomposition techniques are used to identify the factors responsible for changes in welfare entry patterns over the 1990s.Results. We find that welfare entry rates declined during the 1990s with the largest declines coming toward the end of the decade. Neither changes in the characteristics of low‐income single mothers nor improvements in the economy directly account for this shift. Rather, the introduction of new policies like time limits, full‐family sanctions, and family caps under welfare reform, along with unmeasured factors such as changes in attitudes toward work and welfare, account for the drop in welfare entry rates. The analysis also shows that declining entry rates are not accompanied by substantial improvements in the circumstances of low‐income single mothers who are not on welfare.Conclusions. Welfare reform policies adopted during the 1990s reduced entry into welfare, but single mothers who stayed off welfare remained in precarious economic circumstances.

Objective. This article examines how welfare entry rates changed during the 1990s, & also assesses whether changes in entry rates are accompanied by improvements in the circumstances of families that choose not to receive welfare. Methods. This analysis uses data from the 1990 & 1996 panels of the Survey of Income & Program Participation to identify three cohorts of low-income single mothers who are potentially eligible for welfare but are not receiving benefits. Multivariate (competing risk) regression models & decomposition techniques are used to identify the factors responsible for changes in welfare entry patterns over the 1990s. Results. We find that welfare entry rates declined during the 1990s with the largest declines coming toward the end of the decade. Neither changes in the characteristics of low-income single mothers nor improvements in the economy directly account for this shift. Rather, the introduction of new policies like time limits, full-family sanctions, & family caps under welfare reform, along with unmeasured factors such as changes in attitudes toward work & welfare, account for the drop in welfare entry rates. The analysis also shows that declining entry rates are not accompanied by substantial improvements in the circumstances of low-income single mothers who are not on welfare. Conclusions. Welfare reform policies adopted during the 1990s reduced entry into welfare, but single mothers who stayed off welfare remained in precarious economic circumstances. Tables, Figures, References. Adapted from the source document.