Social Science Research
Volume 39, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 78-91

Economic self-sufficiency among immigrant TANF-leavers: Welfare eligibility as a natural experiment (Article)

Hall M.* , Graefe D.R. , De Jong G.F.
  • a Department of Sociology, Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802, United States
  • b Department of Sociology, Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802, United States
  • c Department of Sociology, Population Research Institute, Pennsylvania State University, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802, United States

Abstract

We capitalize on inter- and intra-state variation in state welfare rules regarding new immigrants to simulate a "natural experiment" that provides evidence on the impact of post-reform welfare (TANF) participation on immigrant women's economic self-sufficiency. Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (1996-1999 and 2001-2003 panels) and textual data on state welfare rules, we examine three measures of economic well-being - employment, employment stability, and wage trajectories - to obtain a comprehensive picture of immigrants' post-welfare experiences. Findings suggest that immigrant TANF-leavers are no more or less likely to be employed than either TANF-eligible (but not receiving) or TANF-ineligible immigrant women (statistical and natural control groups, respectively). However, given employment, TANF-leavers have substantially longer spells of stable employment and steeper wage trajectories than immigrant women in both control groups. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

Wages TANF immigrants Employment welfare

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-70449093919&doi=10.1016%2fj.ssresearch.2009.07.003&partnerID=40&md5=bcb4eec2848ac1f49c3a5e781f471913
DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2009.07.003
ISSN: 0049089X
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English