This article summarizes the welfare reform legislation passed in
the summer of 1996, and discusses the expected state changes in
public assistance programs that that legislation will produce. Four
key research questions that the new law presents to social scientists
are described: (1) Can the states design and operate better programs
that AFDC? This includes questions about the ability of AFDC women
to work a significant number of hours in the labor market; the effect
of the legislation in areas of concentrated urban poverty; and the
extent to which women will be able to improve the economic status
of their families under the new legislation; (2) Will the jobs be
available? (3) How will the new block grant affect states' fiscal
situation? and (4) What new research methodology questions does
this legislation introduce?
Rebecca Blank,
Department of Economics, Northwestern University
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