A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE DETERMINANTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

Abstract

The study investigates the determinants and consequences of Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). Micro data gathered by the National Longitudinal Survey (NLS) for Mature and Young Women cohorts from the late 1960s through late 1970s are used to construct a model that examines welfare recipience, taking into account various influences both proximate and remote. Within this context the nature of intergenerational dependency is considered.

Among the basic study results is that of the importance of education (opportunity) as both a determinant and consequence of recipience. Accordingly, its role as an intervening variable in transmitting dependency across generations appears to be most significant.