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Source: Contemporary Policy Issues
Resulting in 6 citations.
1. Gill, Andrew Matthew
Michaels, Robert J.
The Determinants of Illegal Drug Use
Contemporary Policy Issues 9,3 (July 1991): 93-105.
Also: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1465-7287.1991.tb00345.x/abstract
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Western Economic Association International
Keyword(s): Drug Use; Earnings; Modeling, Probit; Time Use; Wages

Drug use is analyzed using a model in which an individual's time is allocated among labor, non-drug consumption, leisure, and drug use, where the individual is cognizant of the effect of drug use on wages. Comparative static results are analyzed, and data from the NLSY are used to estimate a probit model of the individual decision to use drugs. It is found that noneconomic factors dominate the decision for both harder drugs and for drugs more broadly defined. Wages and the associated difference in wages between users and nonusers do not influence the likelihood of drug use. Variables indicating underlying personality problems, such as those associated with problem drinking, and a predisposition to illegal acts exert strong influences. Because drug price data are not available, these findings cannot be taken as being conclusive. [ABI/INFORM]
Bibliography Citation
Gill, Andrew Matthew and Robert J. Michaels. "The Determinants of Illegal Drug Use." Contemporary Policy Issues 9,3 (July 1991): 93-105.
2. Maxwell, Nan L.
Influences on the Timing of First Childbearing
Contemporary Policy Issues 5,2 (April 1987): 113-121.
Also: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1465-7287.1987.tb00260.x/abstract
Cohort(s): Young Women
Publisher: Western Economic Association International
Keyword(s): Age at First Birth; Childbearing; First Birth; Mothers, Race

This paper presents evidence that women from different population subgroups respond differently to economic and background influences when timing initial childbearing. Among all groups examined, age at first birth tends to increase as education levels increase, and married women with spouses present tend to be older than other women at first childbirth. Among whites, all economic influences considered - hourly pay rate, nonmarket income, and work during the year prior to childbearing - have a significant influence in deferring first childbirth, but family background does not. Among blacks, family background plays a significant role in determining age at first childbirth, but only one economic influence - the hourly pay rate - is significant. Blacks' response to family background is somewhat greater than their response to hourly pay rate. Race as a separate influence is significant among women age 20 years or under, but that influence disappears among older women. Because of their adverse economic consequences, adolescent pregnancies and unwed motherhood are of mounting concern. This study suggests that, contrary to popular belief, welfare programs do not foster early pregnancy nor do programs to reduce unemployment deter it. Educational achievement, however, serves as a deterrent to early pregnancy among all groups.
Bibliography Citation
Maxwell, Nan L. "Influences on the Timing of First Childbearing." Contemporary Policy Issues 5,2 (April 1987): 113-121.
3. Phillips, Llad
Votey, Harold L.
Crimes by Youth: Deterrence and Moral Compliance with the Law
Contemporary Policy Issues 5,4 (October 1987): 73-90.
Also: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1465-7287.1987.tb00273.x/abstract
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Western Economic Association International
Keyword(s): Delinquency/Gang Activity; Earnings; Family Influences; Income

A decision theory framework is employed to assess the extent to which crimes by youth are explained by the "economic model of crime." This model is expanded from the usual formulation including deterrence effects to investigate the impact of earned income and income supplements on individuals' crime participation. Variables representing the forces of moral compliance and family attitudes also are evaluated. Data are from the NLSY consisting of 12,686 individuals' responses over a 3-year period. The sample is divided into 4 subsets: (1) innocents who have never committed a crime; (2) experimenters who admitted to some crime but had not been caught; (3) desisters who reported no 1979 offenses but had had past contact with the police; and (4) persisters who had crime involvement in 1979 and had had prior contacts with police. Moral compliance is found to have a moderating effect on the decision to commit crimes, even by persistently criminal individuals. Moreover, the expected cost of sanctions has more impact than does the lack of realized economic opportunities. [ABI/INFORM]
Bibliography Citation
Phillips, Llad and Harold L. Votey. "Crimes by Youth: Deterrence and Moral Compliance with the Law." Contemporary Policy Issues 5,4 (October 1987): 73-90.
4. Phillips, Llad
Votey, Harold L.
The Choice Between Legitimate and Illegitimate Work: Micro Study of Individual Behavior
Contemporary Policy Issues 5,4 (October 1987): 59-72.
Also: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1465-7287.1987.tb00272.x/abstract
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: Western Economic Association International
Keyword(s): Behavior; Delinquency/Gang Activity; Employment; Schooling

An investigation is conducted of the effect of 1979 labor force experience on the probability of employment in 1980, controlling for the fraction of support obtained through illegal activities in 1979. The sample, derived from the NLSY, is made up of 2,779 individuals aged 16 or 17 years old who provided information about labor force experience in 1979. The sample is divided into 3 subgroups: (1) those who were not enrolled in school in 1979; (2) those who were enrolled in 1979, but who had dropped out by 1980; and (3) those who were enrolled in 1980. Influences on the probability of 1980 employment included: (1) the fraction of weeks worked between 1979 and 1980 interviews; (2) earning 1/4 or more of support from illegal activities during the year before the 1980 interview; and (3) employment status in 1979. Involvement in illegal activities was found to decrease the probability of future employment most for dropouts and least for those staying in school. In addition, it appeared that most minors obtaining support from crime are not pursuing criminal activities as an exclusive career. [Copyright: ABI/INFORM]
Bibliography Citation
Phillips, Llad and Harold L. Votey. "The Choice Between Legitimate and Illegitimate Work: Micro Study of Individual Behavior." Contemporary Policy Issues 5,4 (October 1987): 59-72.
5. Veum, Jonathan R.
Wage Mobility and Wage Inequality Among Young Workers
Contemporary Policy Issues 11,4 (October 1993): 31-41.
Also: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1465-7287.1993.tb00399.x/abstract
Cohort(s): NLSY79, Young Men
Publisher: Western Economic Association International
Keyword(s): High School Completion/Graduates; Mobility; Psychological Effects; Wage Dynamics; Wages, Youth

Data from the National Longitudinal Surveys are used to examine wage inequality and wage mobility within the wage distribution for young high school graduates during their early years in the labor market. The analysis constructs a new index that facilitates measuring mobility changes over time. The data indicate that no strong relationship exists between wage mobility and wage inequality for young workers. Controlling for time invariant differences between individuals also indicates that between the 1970s and the 1980s factors that impact mobility underwent very few changes. Using longitudinal data can possibly add another dimension to wage distribution discussions. The techniques used in the analysis illustrate the limitations of simply examining a time series of cross- sections. Incorporating longitudinal data into mobility analyses might yield important insight into wage distribution dynamics. (Copyright Western Economic Association 1993)
Bibliography Citation
Veum, Jonathan R. "Wage Mobility and Wage Inequality Among Young Workers." Contemporary Policy Issues 11,4 (October 1993): 31-41.
6. Zalokar, C. Nadja
Careers of Young Women During the Transitional Decade of the 1970s
Contemporary Policy Issues 7,1 (January 1989): 95-109
Cohort(s): Young Women
Publisher: Western Economic Association International
Keyword(s): Career Patterns; Human Capital Theory; Mobility, Occupational; Occupational Choice; Occupational Segregation; Occupations, Female; Occupations, Male; Occupations, Non-Traditional; Work Histories

Information from the NLS of Young Women was used to examine the careers of young women during the transitional decade of the 1970s. Women in skilled, traditionally male occupations were the primary focus. Although human capital theory predicted otherwise, women with high initial labor force attachment entered skilled jobs in the traditionally female sector rather than the traditionally male sector. Women with low initial labor force attachment who entered skilled jobs later in life were more likely to enter skilled male jobs. Women experienced mixed success in skilled male occupations. Those in skilled male jobs were less likely to make long-term career commitments than women in skilled non-male jobs; however, they earned considerably more than women in other positions. The chances of women remaining in skilled male occupations increased throughout the decade of the 1970s, which suggests that prospects for women in these jobs improved. [ABI/INFORM]
Bibliography Citation
Zalokar, C. Nadja. "Careers of Young Women During the Transitional Decade of the 1970s." Contemporary Policy Issues 7,1 (January 1989): 95-109.