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WORKFARE IN THE 1980s: SUCCESSES AND LIMITS
Author(s) -
Schiller Bradley R.,
Brasher C. Nielson
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
review of policy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.832
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1541-1338
pISSN - 1541-132X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-1338.1990.tb01072.x
Subject(s) - workfare , welfare , welfare reform , economics , service (business) , political science , public administration , public economics , economic growth , economy , market economy
Between 1981 and 1987 twenty‐eight states experimented with workfare programs. By requiring mandatory community service from welfare recipients, the states hoped to reduce welfare caseloads as well as increase community service. Based in part on those program experiences, Congress included the first national workfare requirement in the 1988 welfare reform package (the Family Support Act). This study is the first to attempt to evaluate the implementation and impact of workfare on a national basis. A pooled, cross‐section, longitudinal model is used to estimate the effect of workfare on AFDC caseloads. Despite the low level of state‐level implementation, the evidence suggests that workfare may have contributed to welfare caseload reductions in the 1980s.