The design of welfare programs in an era of reform and devolution to the states must take into account the likely effects of programs on demographic behavior. In the past, most research on welfare has examined labor market issues, although there have also been some important evaluations of the effects of Aid to Families with Dependent Children on out-of-wedlock childbearing. Much less information is available on other issues equally central to the debate, including effects on abortion decisions, marriage and divorce, intrafamily relations, household formation, and living arrangements. This book of papers contains reviews and syntheses of existing evidence bearing on the demographic impacts of welfare and ideas for how to evaluate new state-level reforms.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Introduction
Trends in Marriage and Fertility
Trends in the Welfare System
Effects of Welfare on Marriage, Fertility, and Abortion
Effects of Welfare on the Family
Research and Evaluation Needs
References
Appendix: Workshop Agenda