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State strategies for welfare reform: The Wisconsin story

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  • Michael Wiseman

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin)

Abstract

Wisconsin is commonly cited as exemplar of the capability of states for reforming welfare. Wisconsin's welfare and caseload declined 22.5 percent between 1986 and 1994. I argue that the decline resulted from restriction of eligibility and benefits, a strong state economy, and large expenditures on welfare-to-work programs encouraged by an exceptional fiscal bargain with the federal government. Continued reduction of welfare utilization by means other than denying access are jeopardized by proposed changes in federal cost-sharing, a prospective state deficit, and the growing share of the caseload accounted for by residents of Milwaukee. Wisconsin Works, the state's plan for public assistance in a post-block grant world, continues benefit reduction and eligibility restriction but expands emphasis on employment. The special circumstances enjoyed by Wisconsin are unlikely to be duplicated elsewhere.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Wiseman, 1996. "State strategies for welfare reform: The Wisconsin story," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 15(4), pages 515-546.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jpamgt:v:15:y:1996:i:4:p:515-546
    DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1520-6688(199623)15:4<515::AID-PAM1>3.0.CO;2-K
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Erica B. Baum, 1991. "When the witch doctors agree: The family support act and social science research," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 10(4), pages 603-615.
    2. M. Wiseman, "undated". "State strategies for welfare reform: The Wisconsin Story (Revised)," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1066-95, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
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    Cited by:

    1. Howard Chernick, 1998. "Fiscal Effects of Block Grants for the Needy: An Interpretation of the Evidence," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 5(2), pages 205-233, May.
    2. Dee, Thomas S., 2011. "Conditional cash penalties in education: Evidence from the Learnfare experiment," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 924-937, October.
    3. Chen, Yiyu, 2015. "Does a nonresident parent have the right to make decisions for his nonmarital children?: Trends in legal custody among paternity cases," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 55-65.
    4. Bernecker, Andreas, 2016. "Divided we reform? Evidence from US welfare policies," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 24-38.
    5. T. Kaplan, "undated". "Wisconsin’s W-2 Program: Welfare as We Might Come to Know It," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1173-98, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    6. Covaleski, Mark A. & Dirsmith, Mark W. & Weiss, Jane M., 2013. "The social construction, challenge and transformation of a budgetary regime: The endogenization of welfare regulation by institutional entrepreneurs," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 333-364.
    7. James P. Ziliak & David N. Figlio, 2000. "Geographic Differences in AFDC and Food Stamp Caseloads in the Welfare Reform Era," JCPR Working Papers 180, Northwestern University/University of Chicago Joint Center for Poverty Research.
    8. L. M. Mead, "undated". "The Decline of Welfare in Wisconsin," Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion Papers 1164-98, University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty.
    9. Andreas Bernecker, 2014. "Divided We Reform? Evidence from US Welfare Policies," CESifo Working Paper Series 4564, CESifo.
    10. Kwon, Hyeok Chang & Meyer, Daniel R., 2011. "How do economic downturns affect welfare leavers? A comparison of two cohorts," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 588-597, May.

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