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Measuring State TANF Policy Variations and Change After Reform

Author

Listed:
  • Gordon F. De Jong
  • Deborah Roempke Graefe
  • Shelley K. Irving
  • Tanja St. Pierre

Abstract

Objectives. Our objectives are to describe the policies adopted after PRWORA, which vary across states, to test for common underlying policy concepts, demonstrating how these policies are interrelated, and to examine whether policy stringency diffused to neighboring states results in greater policy stringency across all states over time. We convert textual TANF welfare guidelines into empirically derived policy dimensions and use the derived quantitative scores to describe variation and change in welfare policy dimensions across status during the 1996–2003 post‐welfare‐reform period. Methods. Utilizing the Urban Institute's Welfare Rules Database, we apply a factor analytic methodology to 78 unique state policy guidelines that were coded on a lenient‐to‐stringent continuum. Regression analyses, employing spatial contiguity weighting, are used to describe policy diffusion. Results. The results identified 15 underlying first‐order post‐welfare‐reform policy dimensions, which for scientific parsimony were further reduced to three second‐order underlying dimensions representing rules governing eligibility: eligibility requirements for groups, behavioral responsibilities for maintaining eligibility, and eligibility time limits and exemptions. Analysis of the quantitative scores showed that by 2003 states had become more lenient regarding eligibility criteria for groups but decidedly more stringent regarding behavioral guidelines for maintaining eligibility and eligibility time limits and exemptions. Spatial clustering is not found globally but is significant for some states at the local level. Spatial diffusion is apparent only for behavioral rules. Conclusions. Our results suggest that TANF policy variations across states go beyond payment levels to include salient eligibility rules. The patterns of variability in change scores across states do not support a pervasive “race to the bottom” conclusion.

Suggested Citation

  • Gordon F. De Jong & Deborah Roempke Graefe & Shelley K. Irving & Tanja St. Pierre, 2006. "Measuring State TANF Policy Variations and Change After Reform," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 87(4), pages 755-781, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:87:y:2006:i:4:p:755-781
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2006.00432.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Compton, Andrew D., 2013. "Welfare Reform’s Effect on State Public Welfare Budget Shares," SS-AAEA Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 2013, pages 1-19.
    2. Stephen Matthews & Daniel M. Parker, 2013. "Progress in Spatial Demography," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 28(10), pages 271-312.
    3. Jeounghee Kim, 2012. "The Effects of Welfare-to-Work Programs on Welfare Recipients’ Employment Outcomes," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 33(1), pages 130-142, March.
    4. Megan M. Reynolds & Ashley M. Fox & Yvette Young, 2021. "State‐level social safety nets for families coping with job loss," Poverty & Public Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 13(2), pages 121-138, June.
    5. Megan M. Reynolds & Patricia A. Homan, 2023. "Income Support Policy Packages and Birth Outcomes in U.S. States: An Ecological Analysis," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(4), pages 1-24, August.
    6. Deborah Graefe & Gordon Jong & Dee May, 2006. "Work disability and migration in the early years of welfare reform," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 25(4), pages 353-368, August.

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