Full Citation
Title: EFFECTS OF THE 1996 WELFARE REFORM ON IMMIGRANT POVERTY AND WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis
Publication Year: 2012
ISBN:
ISSN:
DOI:
NSFID:
PMCID:
PMID:
Abstract: This study investigates how the 1996 welfare reform legislation, the United States Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA), impacted poverty and workforce participation outcomes for immigrants in the United States. Among other new restrictions for all individuals in the United States, PRWORA removed welfare eligibility for non-citizens for their first five years in the country and instituted work requirements for all citizens to receive welfare. This study uses a triple-difference linear probability model similar to Borjas (2003) to measure changes in the likelihood of being in poverty and participating in the workforce by citizenship status, state provision of welfare, and time. Results are calculated for two post-PRWORA time periods, 1998- 1999 and 2008-2009, and compared to the pre-PRWORA time period 1994-1995. PRWORA is found to have increased the likelihood of being in poverty for non-citizens with children living in states not providing welfare to immigrants in the second post- PRWORA period. In states that chose not to provide welfare to immigrants, PRWORA increased the likelihood that naturalized citizens participate in the workforce in the first post-PRWORA period but decreased the likelihood that non-citizens in those states participated in the workforce in the second post-PRWORA period. These findings suggest that PRWORA negatively affected immigrants as a group, particularly non- citizens, and that the five-year bar on eligibility for welfare should be removed. I want to thank my thesis advisor for all his patience, encouragement, and guidance throughout this process. I also want to thank my family and friends for their support and listening ear when I was not sure how I would get it all done. Most of all I want to thank Patrick, the love of my life, for giving up so much to make pursuing this degree possible.
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Johnson, Kristen L
Institution: Georgetown University
Department:
Advisor:
Degree:
Publisher Location:
Pages: 102
Data Collections: IPUMS CPS
Topics: Migration and Immigration, Poverty and Welfare
Countries: United States