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Source: Institute for Women\'s Policy Research
Resulting in 1 citation.
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Miller, Cheryl M. Bouchet, Stacey |
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The Use of Marriage as an Anti-Poverty Measure: Assessing Racial Differences in Effects on Income Presented: Washington, DC, Institute for Women's Policy Research Seventh International Women's Policy Research Conference, "Women Working to Make a Difference", June 2003 Cohort(s): NLSY79 Publisher: Institute for Women's Policy Research Keyword(s): Hispanics; Income; Marital Status; Marriage; Poverty Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher. Marriage promotion has taken a prominent position on the public policy agenda as a solution for economic hardship and "undesirable" social behavior. The most extensive legislation that promotes marriage as a way to combat poverty is the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. Given the higher rate of single parenthood, and the dramatically greater poverty rates of blacks and Hispanics, compared to white non-Hispanics, arguably, women of color are a primary focus of marriage promotion efforts. This paper empirically examines the impact of marriage on income for women of color. Using panel data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1979-1998, this paper frames and tests two primary research questions: (1) Are there race/ethnicity differences in the economic benefits of marriage?, and (2) are there human capital variables that have a similar impact on the income status of poor women? Using multiple linear regression analysis, we find that the impact of marriage on income is significantly lower for black and Hispanic women than for white women. We also find educational attainment has as much of an impact on income gains for women of color as marriage, but less so for women who have been in poverty. These findings support arguments against using a 'cookie cutter' approach, like marriage, to lifting poor women out of poverty, especially at the expense of human capital investment. |
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Bibliography Citation
Miller, Cheryl M. and Stacey Bouchet. "The Use of Marriage as an Anti-Poverty Measure: Assessing Racial Differences in Effects on Income." Presented: Washington, DC, Institute for Women's Policy Research Seventh International Women's Policy Research Conference, "Women Working to Make a Difference", June 2003. |