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Title: The American Welfare System and Family Structure: A Historical Perspective

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2005

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Abstract: Cross-sectional studies have found a positive relationship between a state's welfare benefit level and single motherhood. But is this evidence of a "welfare effect" or rather of cross state differences in social attitudes that influence both welfare policy and behavior? This study looks at the history of welfare programs over the twentieth century and examines the relationship between welfare benefits and family structure from 1910 and 1970. Cross-state variation in welfare policy was already present in the mothers' pensions programs enacted in the 1910s, but evidence of a welfare effect does not appear until 1960 or 1970.

Url: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.502.7487&rep=rep1&type=pdf

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Authors: Moehling, Carolyn M

Publisher: Yale University

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Family and Marriage, Poverty and Welfare

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