Are We Helping the Poor? An inquiry into the Effects of "welfare-to-work" Programs on TANF Recipients
Date
2009
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Producer
Director
Performer
Choreographer
Costume Designer
Music
Videographer
Lighting Designer
Set Designer
Crew Member
Funder
Rehearsal Director
Concert Coordinator
Advisor
Moderator
Panelist
Alternative Title
Department
Haverford College. Department of Economics
Type
Thesis
Original Format
Running Time
File Format
Place of Publication
Date Span
Copyright Date
Award
Language
eng
Note
Table of Contents
Terms of Use
Rights Holder
Access Restrictions
Open Access
Terms of Use
Tripod URL
Identifier
Abstract
This paper evaluates the effects of “welfare-to-work” programs. Of interest are the stringency of work related activity requirements, whether or not work related activity requirements are on a case by case basis, and whether or not mandatory job search assistance programs exist. The outcomes on which I evaluate the effects of these policies are income, proportion of individuals who are not working, and proportion of individuals who are working full time. The effect of mandatory job search assistance programs is negligible and negative in all cases. I find a dual effect of stringency of work related activity requirements and work related activity requirements on a case by case basis, leading to increased levels of income and full time employment but decreased levels of employment overall. This suggests a cyclical effect whereby TANF recipients are forced into full time labor but soon exit the labor force. I hypothesize that this is due to job mismatch, as TANF recipients do not have time to find a job that is a good match for them.