ERIC Number: ED602226
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Oct
Pages: 46
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1936-9379
EISSN: N/A
Long-Run Impact of Welfare Reform on Educational Attainment and Family Structure. University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research Discussion Paper Series, DP2018-07
Vaughn, Cody
University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research
In the early 90's, the United States reformed its welfare system through state waivers and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. These changes altered family resources and potential investments for childhood human capital, which in turn could affect later adult outcomes. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, I examine the long-run impact of growing up under welfare reform on adult education and family structure through age 28. I find that as children, these individuals have higher reading test scores by an average of 6% of a standard deviation. As adults, I find robust evidence that these treated individuals are on average 9% more like to graduate college. I find some evidence that they are more likely to be married and less likely to have a child out of wedlock. The effects for women are larger than men for college completion, marriage rates, and out of wedlock births.
Descriptors: Welfare Services, Educational Attainment, Family Structure, Adult Education, Probability, Children, Reading Tests, Scores, Adults, College Graduates, Marital Status, Gender Differences, Longitudinal Studies
University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research. 302D Mathews Building, Lexington, KY 40506. Tel: 859-257-7641; Fax: 859-257-6959; e-mail: ukcpr@uky.edu; Web site: http://www.ukcpr.org
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A