Work, welfare, and child maltreatment

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Paxson, C; Waldfogel, J
• 署名单位: Princeton University; National Bureau of Economic Research; Columbia University; University of London; London School Economics & Political Science
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF LABOR ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0734-306X
• DOI: 10.1086/339609
• 发表日期: 2002
• 页码: 435-474
• 关键词: household dysfunction; ABUSE; parents; VIOLENCE; mothers; poverty; neglect; IMPACT

摘要

We examine how child maltreatment-including neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and other forms of maltreatment-is affected by parental economic circumstances. Using state-level panel data on cases of maltreatment and numbers of children in foster care, we find that increases in the fractions of children with absent fathers and working mothers in a state are related to increases in many measures of maltreatment, as are increases in the share of families with two nonworking parents and those with incomes below 75% of the poverty line. Decreases in state welfare benefit levels are associated with increases in foster care placement.