Changes in living arrangements during the late 1990s: Do welfare policies matter?

Abstract

Using data from the 1997 and 1999 National Surveys of America's Families, the authors examine the consequences of state welfare policies and practices on the living arrangements of low-income families with children. Results from a multivariate difference-in-difference-in-differences model suggest that more effective collection of child support and family cap policies are correlated with declines in single parenting and increases in dual parenting. Other policies such as sanctions and special restrictions that apply to two-parent families have no clear, consistent association with living arrangements. © 2004 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.

Paid parental leave and families’ living arrangements

“…For instance, Acs and Nelson (2004) investigate the effect of specific elements of TANF on children's and women's living arrangements. They find some evidence that family caps increase the probability of children living with their parents, and that child-support enforcement measures reduce the incidence of single parenthood.…”

Men’s economic status and marital transitions of fragile families

“…This is surprising, for two reasons. First, a wealth of research shows that unwed parents differ in important ways from those who marry before bearing children, and that cohabitors differ from those who marry directly (Acs and Nelson 2004;Clarkberg 1999;Graefe and Lichter 2002). Non-marital parenting and cohabitation in the United States are most prevalent among racial minorities and those with low levels of education, poor earnings, and unstable employment or marital histories (Blackwell and Lichter 2004;Manning 2001;Martin 2004;Musick 2002) -all factors that reduce marriages.…”

State Welfare Policies and Children’s Living Arrangements

“…Gregory Acs and Sandi Nelson (2004) use data from the 1997 and 1999 rounds of the National Survey of America's Families to examine how changes in welfare policies influence children's living arrangements. They focus specifically on the strictness of state sanction policies, whether the states have a family cap, the effectiveness of the state child support enforcement, and whether the state has expanded welfare eligibility for two-parent families.…”

“…In contrast, no consistent associations are found for sanction policies or eligibility for married parents. Acs and Nelson (2004) examine whether children lived with a married parent, a single parent, or no parent, but they do not consider whether a single mother doubles up by living with other adults.…”