Migration, the life cycle, and state benefits: How low is the bottom?

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Gelbach, JB
• 署名单位: University System of Maryland; University of Maryland College Park
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/422560
• 发表日期: 2004
• 页码: 1091-1130
• 关键词: income-tax; welfare; POLICY

摘要

I show that among women likely to use welfare, movers move to higher-benefit states. I also find that the probability likely welfare users will move at all is lower in higher-benefit states. This effect is concentrated early in the life cycle, as theory predicts. I construct a theoretical framework to measure the impact of welfare migration on optimal state benefits. Simulation results suggest little impact in higher-benefit states, but possibly a more substantial impact in other states. Finally, evidence suggests little reason for concern (due to welfare migration) in using cross-state variation in welfare generosity to identify incentive effects of the welfare system on other outcome variables.