In this paper we use qualitative interviews, embedded within a large, nationally representative survey, to examine what new unmarried parents say about their plans and expectations for marriage and to determine why they do not marry. The qualitative data shed light on an apparent contradiction that arises from the quantitative analysis. According to the latter, […]
In Gordon Berlin’s report to Congress he addresses the committee about what is known and not known about the effects of marriage and divorce on families and children and about what policies and programs might work to promote and strengthen healthy marriages, especially among the poor. His goal is to briefly summarize the evidence in […]
What explains the gap between what unmarried parents say about marriage and what they do? One explanation for low marriage rates in this population is the lack of marriageable males – men who are financially stable and non-incarcerated. Another explanation is that a large number of women haveentered the workforce, making them less dependent on […]
This paper uses meta-analytic techniques to provide a systematic appraisal of how welfare reform policies in six studies representing 14 welfare programs have affected marriage and cohabitation among single-parent families overall and for a variety of subpopulations. In each of the studies examined, single parents were randomly assigned to a program that included some combination […]
The following research findings on cohabitation outcomes are discussed: cohabiting couples without plans to marry tend to report poorer relationship quality than married couples; cohabiting couples are more likely to separate and less likely to reconcile after a separation than married couples; cohabiting couples are more likely to experience infidelity than married couples; compared to […]
In this brief, we contrast making cash and related forms of public assistance more generous with strategies that encourage work and marriage. The data suggest that the latter are more effective ways of reducing poverty and demonstrate the wisdom of the increasing attention that has been given to encouraging work and marriage in recent policy […]
The goal of the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act was to end needy parents’ dependence on governmental benefits, in part by promoting marriage. The prereform welfare system was widely believed to discourage marriage because it provided benefits primarily to single mothers. However, welfare reform may have actually decreased the incentives to be […]
Welfare reform has been a huge success, if measured by reductions in caseloads. Since the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) was passed in 1996, welfare caseloads have plummeted, and are lower today than at anytime since 1969. Such diverse states as Wisconsin, Idaho, and Mississippi have experienced reductions of 80 percent or […]
The Welfare Peer TA Network sponsored a multi-State TA event on July 15-16, 2003, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This event was co-coordinated with Public Strategies, the public relations firm that manages the Oklahoma Marriage Initiative. The Administration for Children and Families’ Region VI, VII and IX Offices provided additional support, ensuring this event met State […]
This video session was planned with two goals in mind. The first — to examine the “”Consequences of Marriage Report”” that succinctly stated “”Does marriage bring the same benefits to all groups, and in particular of course to African-Americans?”” and the evidence being very strong, especially with Caucasian families, that marriage conveys very substantial advantages […]