The Dynamics of Welfare Dependency: A Survey.

David W. Lyon

Expert InsightsPublished 1976

A review of published research on the dynamics of welfare dependency prepared for the Welfare Policy Project of The Ford Foundation and The Institute for Policy Sciences and Public Affairs at Duke University. Reviews research in four areas: work incentive effects of guaranteed incomes; caseload forecasting models; the income dynamics of poverty families; and impact of work programs on dependency. Some findings: (1) Lower benefit-loss rates tend to result in more AFDC mothers working rather than an increase in hours worked. (2) The average stay on the rolls is between two and three years. (3) The job market has a measurable effect on the welfare decision. (4) Benefit levels have only a minor influence on migration. (5) Administrative policy causes an important part of the dynamic behavior found in the AFDC caseload, but it does not offset the evidence that welfare dependency is essentially an economic decision. 49 pp. Bibliog.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web Only
  • Year: 1976
  • Pages: 49
  • Document Number: P-5769

Citation

Chicago Manual of Style

Lyon, David W., The Dynamics of Welfare Dependency: A Survey. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1976. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P5769.html.
BibTeX RIS

This publication is part of the RAND paper series. The paper series was a product of RAND from 1948 to 2003 that captured speeches, memorials, and derivative research, usually prepared on authors' own time and meant to be the scholarly or scientific contribution of individual authors to their professional fields. Papers were less formal than reports and did not require rigorous peer review.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.